Indirect passive cooling system for liquid metal cooled nuclear reactors.

摘要

A liquid metal cooled nuclear reactor having a passive cooling system for removing residual heat resulting from fuel decay during reactor shutdown. The passive cooling system comprises a plurality of partitions (22-26) surrounding the reactor vessel (12) in spaced apart relation forming intermediate areas (32,34) for circulating heat transferring fluid to remove and carry away heat from the reactor vessel. The passive cooling system includes a closed primary fluid circuit (48) through the partitions surrounding the reactor vessel and a partially adjoining secondary open fluid circuit (54) for carrying transferred heat out into the atmosphere.