Frank T Vereb

US Patent:

20130272475, Oct 17, 2013

Filed:

Apr 12, 2012

Appl. No.:

13/444967

Inventors:

Frank T. Vereb - Coraopolis PA, US
William L. Brown - Pittsburgh PA, US
Forrest T. Johnson - Pittsburgh PA, US

Assignee:

WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC COMPANY LLC - Cranberry Township PA

International Classification:

G21C 9/00

US Classification:

376299

Abstract:

A passive containment air cooling system for a nuclear power plant that enhances air flow over a metal containment that houses the reactor system to improve heat transfer out of the containment. The heat transfer is improved by employing swirl vanes to mix the air as it rises over the walls of the containment due to natural circulation and a vortex engine proximate an exit along the cooling air path to increase the quantity of air drawn along the containment.

US Patent:

20130044851, Feb 21, 2013

Filed:

Aug 17, 2011

Appl. No.:

13/211354

Inventors:

James Winters - Latrobe PA, US
Frank T. Vereb - Coraopolis PA, US
Jeffrey Dederer - Valencia PA, US

Assignee:

WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC COMPANY LLC - Cranberry Township PA

International Classification:

G21C 9/00

US Classification:

376299

Abstract:

A nuclear plant auxiliary backup power system that uses decay heat following a plant shutdown to produce electrical power through a dedicated steam turbine/generator set. The decay heat produces a hot operating gaseous fluid which is used as a backup to run an appropriately sized turbine that powers an electrical generator. The turbine is configured to utilize a portion of the existing nuclear plant secondary system and exhausts the turbine exhaust to the ambient atmosphere. The system functions to both remove reactor decay heat and provide electrical power for plant systems to enable an orderly shutdown in the event traditional sources of electric power are unavailable.

US Patent:

20170011813, Jan 12, 2017

Filed:

Sep 23, 2016

Appl. No.:

15/274761

Inventors:

- Cranberry Township PA, US
WILLIAM L. BROWN - PITTSBURGH PA, US
FRANK VEREB - CORAOPOLIS PA, US

Assignee:

WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC COMPANY LLC - CRANBERRY TOWNSHIP PA

International Classification:

G21C 19/40
G21C 19/07

Abstract:

The present invention relates to passive cooling systems and methods for cooling a spent fuel pool in a nuclear power plant in the absence of onsite and offsite power, e.g., in a station blackout event. The systems include a gap formed along the periphery of the spent fuel pool, a heat sink, one or more thermal conductive members, a water supply system for delivering water to at least partially fill the gap and conduct heat generated from the spent fuel pool through the gap to at least one thermal conductive member for transporting heat to the heat sink, and a thermal switch mechanism for activating and deactivating the water supply system.In particular, the passive spent fuel pool cooling systems and methods of the invention are useful when the active spent fuel pool cooling system is unavailable or inoperable.

US Patent:

20140219411, Aug 7, 2014

Filed:

Feb 6, 2013

Appl. No.:

13/760263

Inventors:

- CRANBERRY TOWNSHIP PA, US
WILLIAM L. BROWN - PITTSBURGH PA, US
FRANK VEREB - CORAOPOLIS PA, US

Assignee:

WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC COMPANY LLC - CRANBERRY TOWNSHIP PA

International Classification:

G21C 15/18
G21D 3/06

US Classification:

376299

Abstract:

The present invention relates to passive cooling systems and methods for cooling a spent fuel pool in a nuclear power plant in the absence of onsite and offsite power, e.g., in a station blackout event. The systems include a gap formed along the periphery of the spent fuel pool, a heat sink, one or more thermal conductive members, a water supply system for delivering water to at least partially fill the gap and conduct heat generated from the spent fuel pool through the gap to at least one thermal conductive member for transporting heat to the heat sink, and a thermal switch mechanism for activating and deactivating the water supply system.In particular, the passive spent fuel pool cooling systems and methods of the invention are useful when the active spent fuel pool cooling system is unavailable or inoperable.