BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a nuclear power reactor. More particularly, this invention relates to an underground nuclear power reactor. Even more particularly, this invention relates to an underground nuclear power reactor having a blast mitigation chamber connected thereto.

Description of the Related Art

Nuclear power reactor systems have been provided to protect the reactor in the event of war or terrorism. Applicant has previously received several patents which represent significant advances in the nuclear power reactor art. See for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 9,378,855 B2; 9,396,823 B2; 9,502,143 B2; 10,170,209; 10,685,751 B2; and 10,714,221. However, none of Applicant's prior patents have dealt with a convenient means for removing the nuclear power reactor from its confinement member for service or replacement. Further, none of Applicant's patents or prior art patents of which he is aware are capable of mitigating the blast or explosion of the nuclear power reactor should such blast or explosion occur.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This Summary is not intended to identify key aspects or essential aspects of the claimed subject matter. Moreover, this Summary is not intended for use as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter.

In Applicant's pending application Ser. No. 17/138,217 filed Dec. 30, 2020 entitled DOUBLE CONTAINMENT NUCLEAR POWER REACTOR WITH PASSIVE COOLING AND RADIATION SCRUBBING, an improvement in the art is described. Inasmuch as the instant invention works extremely well with the invention of the pending application, the pending application is disclosed and repeated herein to set the proper background for the instant invention.

The underground nuclear power reactor with which the instant invention is associated includes a containment member having:(a) a bottom wall having a first end, a second end, a first side, a second side, an upper side and a lower side;(b) an upstanding first end wall having a lower end, an upper end, an inner side, an outer side, a first end and a second end;(c) said first end wall extending upwardly from the first end of the bottom wall;(d) an upstanding second end wall having a lower end, an upper end, an inner side, an outer side, a first end and a second end;(e) the second end wall extending upwardly from the second end of the bottom wall;(f) the second end wall of the containment member having a door opening formed therein;(g) an upstanding first side wall having a lower end, an upper end, an inner side, an outer side, a first end and a second end;(h) the first side wall extending upwardly from the first side of the bottom wall;(i) an upstanding second side wall having a lower end, an upper end, an inner side, an outer side, a first end and a second end;(j) the second side wall extending upwardly from the second side of the bottom wall;(k) an upper wall having a first end, a second end, a first side, a second side, a lower side and an upper side;(l) the upper wall extending between said upper ends of the first end wall, the second end wall, the first side wall and the second side wall so that the containment member defines an interior compartment therebetween; and(m) the upper wall of the containment member being located below ground level whereby the containment member is completely buried in the ground.

The instant invention includes an elongated and horizontally disposed hollow blast tunnel including a blast chamber which extends from the second end wall of the containment member of the pending application and which includes:(a) a bottom wall having a first end, a second end, a first side, a second side, an upper side and a lower side;(b) an upstanding first side wall having a lower end, an upper end, an inner side, an outer side, a first end and a second end;(c) the first side wall extending upwardly from the first side of the bottom wall;(d) an upstanding second side wall having a lower end, an upper end, an inner side, an outer side, a first end and a second end;(e) the second side wall extending upwardly from the second side of the bottom wall;(f) an upstanding first end wall having a lower end and an upper end;(g) the first end wall extending between the first ends of the first and second side walls;(h) an upstanding second end wall having a lower end and an upper end;(i) the second end wall extending between the second ends of the first and second side walls;(j) an upper wall extending over the upper ends of the first end wall, the second end wall, the first side wall and the second side wall;(k) the upper wall having a roof opening formed therein which is selectively closed by a roof portion;(l) the first end wall of the blast tunnel having a door opening formed therein which communicates with the door opening in the second end wall of the confinement member;(m) a door movably positioned in the door opening in said second end wall of the containment member and the door opening in the first end wall of the blast tunnel with the door being movable from a normally closed position to an open position due to blast forces; and(n) the door may be also selectively opened to permit the nuclear power reactor to be removed from the containment member for replacement and/or repair.

In the preferred embodiment, the blast tunnel is comprised of concrete. In the preferred embodiment, the deflectors are selectively removably secured to the side walls of the blast tunnel.

A principal object of the invention is to provide a blast mitigation chamber for use with an underground nuclear power reactor.

A further object of the invention is to provide a blast mitigation assembly including a blast chamber which will not only mitigate the blast of an exploding underground nuclear power reactor but which also can be used to enable a reactor to be moved from its underground containment member for repair or replacement.

A further object of the invention is to provide a blast mitigation assembly of the type described which reduces the radiation of an exploded reactor from reaching the atmosphere.

These and other objects will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

