JPS5949559B

1427673 Nuclear reactors COMMISSARIAT A L'ENERGIE ATOMIQUE and SOC CREUSOT-LOIRE 26 Feb 1974 [7 March 1973] 8636/74 Heading G6C In a fast, liquid metal- (e.g. sodium) cooled reactor, a primary vessel 16 containing the core 12 has an outwardly inclined lateral portion 23 whose peripheral margin is turned downwards and is connected, as at 20, to the wall of a surrounding main vessel 2. In the embodiment shown a frusto-conical member 19, to which a diagrid support 18 is connected, is also attached at 20. The portion 23 is penetrated to accommodate heat-exchangers 10 and pumps 11. At the point 20, an annular member 24a (Fig. 3) secures both the portion 23 and member 19 to the vessel 2. Cool sodium drawn through apertures 35 in member 24a passes up the space defined by vessel 2 and baffle 31 and down the space defined by baffle 31 and counter-baffle 32 to cool the upper wall zone of vessel 2. In another embodiment (Fig. 4, not shown) the downwardly-turned margin of the portion 23 is secured to the lower end of the counterbaffle 32 which, in turn, is secured to the baffle 31 which, in turn, is secured at its lower edge to the vessel wall in the region of a strengthening member (45) to which a frusto-conical member (44) extending from diagrid support 18 is also connected.