Lawrence E Conway

US Patent:

6795518, Sep 21, 2004

Filed:

Mar 9, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/803418

Inventors:

Lawrence E. Conway - Hookstown PA
Mario D. Carelli - Greensburg PA
Carlo V. Lombardi - Milan, IT
Luca Oriani - Milan, IT
Marco Ricotti - Sesto San Giovanni (MI), IT

Assignee:

Westinghouse Electric Company LLC - Pittsburgh PA
Polytechnic of Milan - Milan

International Classification:

G21C 9012

US Classification:

376283, 376293, 376294, 376295, 376296, 376298, 376299, 376391, 376402, 376403, 376404, 376405, 376406

Abstract:

Passive emergency cooling in response to a loss of coolant accident (LOCA) in a PWR, having an integral reactor pressure vessel incorporating the steam generators and housed in a small high pressure containment vessel, is provided by circulating cooling water through the steam generators and heat exchangers in an external tank to cool the reactor vessel at a rate sufficient to lower the pressure in the reactor vessel below that in containment to reverse mass flow out of the reactor vessel and keep the reactor core covered without the addition of makeup water. Suppression tanks inside the small high pressure containment structure limit peak blowdown pressure in containment and provide flood-up water and gravity fed makeup water to cool the core. Diverse cooling is provided by natural circulation of air, and if needed, water, over the spherical containment structure.

US Patent:

20130272474, Oct 17, 2013

Filed:

Apr 12, 2012

Appl. No.:

13/444932

Inventors:

Lawrence E. Conway - Monroeville PA, US
Richard P. Ofstun - Plum Borough PA, US
Alex W. Harkness - Gibsonia PA, US
Terry L. Schulz - Murrysville PA, US

Assignee:

WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC COMPANY LLC - Cranberry Township PA

International Classification:

G21C 9/00

US Classification:

376299

Abstract:

An enhanced passive containment air cooling system for a nuclear power plant that increases the heat transfer surface on the exterior of the nuclear plant's containment vessel. The increased surface area is created by forming a tortuous path in or on at least a substantial part of the exterior surface of the containment vessel over which a cooling fluid can flow and follow the tortuous path. The tortuous path is formed from a series of indentations and protrusions in or on the exterior surface that form a circuitous path for the cooling fluid.

US Patent:

51805430, Jan 19, 1993

Filed:

Jun 26, 1989

Appl. No.:

7/371299

Inventors:

Lawrence E. Conway - Allegheny PA
Terry L. Schulz - Westmoreland PA

Assignee:

Westinghouse Electric Corp. - Pittsburgh PA

International Classification:

G21C 1518

US Classification:

376282

Abstract:

A passive safety injection system relies on differences in water density to induce natural circulatory flow patterns which help maintain prescribed concentrations of boric acid in borated water, and prevents boron from accumulating in the reactor vessel and possibly preventing heat transfer.

US Patent:

53454820, Sep 6, 1994

Filed:

May 6, 1993

Appl. No.:

8/057383

Inventors:

Lawrence E. Conway - Hookstown PA
Susan V. Fanto - Plum Borough PA

Assignee:

Westinghouse Electric Corporation - Pittsburgh PA

International Classification:

G21C 1518
G21C 1300

US Classification:

376299

Abstract:

A passive containment cooling system for a nuclear reactor containment vessel. Disclosed is a cooling water distribution system for introducing cooling water by gravity uniformly over the outer surface of a steel containment vessel using a series of radial guide elements and cascading weir boxes to collect and then distribute the cooling water into a series of distribution areas through a plurality of cascading weirs. The cooling water is then uniformly distributed over the curved surface by a plurality of weir notches in the face plate of the weir box.