Ronald Lee Watson

US Patent:

6588379, Jul 8, 2003

Filed:

Aug 6, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/922667

Inventors:

Billy E. Bingham - Lynchburg VA
Stephen W. Scoles - Lynchburg VA
Ronald C. Watson - Forest VA

Assignee:

BWX Technologies, Inc. - Lynchburg VA

International Classification:

F16T 100

US Classification:

12223516, 12223523, 1224792, 122489, 122492

Abstract:

A steam generator system incorporates multiple processes, either in series or independently and with each process having a process fluid associated therewith, to transfer heat between a common working fluid and the process fluids in order to generate steam from the working fluid. The heat transfer may be controlled by controlling the flow of the working fluid to further regulate and control the generation of steam and/or the individual processes themselves. The generator system includes a vessel and may optionally have baffles located within the vessel to separate the flow of working fluid into a recirculation system to facilitate in the overall operation of the system. The working fluid must be capable of forming steam and preferably consists essentially of water. Straight tubes, plate-type heat exchange surfaces having a common boiling fluid stream, U-tubes, helical tubes, and/or curved tubes may be used as heat exchange means for transferring heat between the working fluid and the process fluids.

US Patent:

20120321030, Dec 20, 2012

Filed:

Jun 15, 2011

Appl. No.:

13/161078

Inventors:

John D. Malloy - Goode VA, US
Mathew W. Ales - Fores VA, US
Ronald C. Watson - Forest VA, US

International Classification:

G21C 15/22

US Classification:

376361

Abstract:

A pressurized water nuclear reactor (PWR) includes a pressure vessel having a lower portion containing a nuclear reactor core comprising a fissile material and an upper portion defining an internal pressurizer volume. A condenser is secured to, and optionally supported by, the upper portion of the pressure vessel. A condenser inlet is in fluid communication with the internal pressurizer volume. A heat sink is in fluid communication with the condenser such that the condenser operates as a passive heat exchanger to condense steam from the internal pressurizer volume into condensate while rejecting heat to the heat sink. A condenser outlet connects with the pressure vessel to return condensate to the pressure vessel. A single metal forging having a first end welded to the pressure vessel and a second end welded to the condenser inlet may provide the fluid communication between the condenser inlet and the internal pressurizer volume.

US Patent:

20130051511, Feb 28, 2013

Filed:

Aug 25, 2011

Appl. No.:

13/217941

Inventors:

Ronald C. Watson - Forest VA, US
John D. Malloy - Goode VA, US
Michael J. Edwards - Forest VA, US

International Classification:

G21C 13/00
G21C 15/00

US Classification:

376273, 376404

Abstract:

A nuclear reactor includes a pressure vessel and a nuclear reactor core disposed in the pressure vessel. A subterranean containment structure contains the nuclear reactor. An ultimate heat sink (UHS) pool is disposed at grade level, and an upper portion of the subterranean containment structure defines at least a portion of the bottom of the UHS pool. In some embodiments, the upper portion of the subterranean containment structure comprises an upper dome, which may protrude above the surface of the UHS pool to define an island surrounded by the UHS pool. In some embodiments, a condenser comprising a heat exchanger including hot and cold flow paths is disposed inside the subterranean containment structure; and cooling water lines operatively connect the condenser with the UHS pool.

US Patent:

20130272478, Oct 17, 2013

Filed:

Apr 17, 2013

Appl. No.:

13/864466

Inventors:

Matthew W. ALES - Forest VA, US
Michael J. EDWARDS - Forest VA, US
Ronald C. WATSON - Forest VA, US
Andrew C. WHITTEN - Lynchburg VA, US

International Classification:

G21C 13/02
G21C 15/24

US Classification:

376352, 376361

Abstract:

A nuclear reactor comprises a nuclear reactor core disposed in a pressure vessel. An isolation valve protects a penetration through the pressure vessel. The isolation valve comprises: a mounting flange connecting with a mating flange of the pressure vessel; a valve seat formed into the mounting flange; and a valve member movable between an open position and a closed position sealing against the valve seat. The valve member is disposed inside the mounting flange or inside the mating flange of the pressure vessel. A biasing member operatively connects to the valve member to bias the valve member towards the open position. The bias keeps the valve member in the open position except when a differential fluid pressure across the isolation valve and directed outward from the pressure vessel exceeds a threshold pressure.

US Patent:

20220367075, Nov 17, 2022

Filed:

Jun 2, 2022

Appl. No.:

17/831043

Inventors:

- Charlotte NC, US
Billy E. Bingham - Lynchburg VA, US
Ronald C. Watson - Forest VA, US
Jason G. Williams - Concord VA, US
Matthew W. Ales - Puyallup WA, US
James B. Inman - Forest VA, US
Sean M. Boyle - Charlotte NC, US

International Classification:

G21C 15/18
G21C 1/32
G21C 15/26
G21C 1/09

Abstract:

In a pressurized water reactor (PWR), emergency core cooling (ECC) responds to depressurization due to a vessel penetration break at the top of the pressure vessel by draining water from a body of water through an injection line into the pressure vessel. A barrier operates concurrently with the ECC to suppress flow of liquid water from the pressure vessel out the vessel penetration break. The barrier may comprise one or more of: (1) an injection line extension passing through the central riser to drain water into the central riser; (2) openings in a lower portion of a central riser to shunt some upward flow from the central riser into a lower portion of the downcomer annulus; and (3) a surge line providing fluid communication between a pressurizer volume at the top of the pressure vessel and the remainder of the pressure vessel which directs water outboard toward the downcomer annulus.

US Patent:

20200350084, Nov 5, 2020

Filed:

Jul 20, 2020

Appl. No.:

16/933498

Inventors:

- Charlotte NC, US
Billy E. Bingham - Lynchburg VA, US
Ronald C. Watson - Forest VA, US
Jason G. Williams - Concord VA, US
Matthew W. Ales - Puyallup WA, US
James B. Inman - Forest VA, US
Sean M. Boyle - Charlotte NC, US

International Classification:

G21C 15/18
G21C 1/32
G21C 15/26

Abstract:

In a pressurized water reactor (PWR), emergency core cooling (ECC) responds to depressurization due to a vessel penetration break at the top of the pressure vessel by draining water from a body of water through an injection line into the pressure vessel. A barrier operates concurrently with the ECC to suppress flow of liquid water from the pressure vessel out the vessel penetration break. The barrier may comprise one or more of: (1) an injection line extension passing through the central riser to drain water into the central riser; (2) openings in a lower portion of a central riser to shunt some upward flow from the central riser into a lower portion of the downcomer annulus; and (3) a surge line providing fluid communication between a pressurizer volume at the top of the pressure vessel and the remainder of the pressure vessel which directs water outboard toward the downcomer annulus.

US Patent:

20200203029, Jun 25, 2020

Filed:

Mar 17, 2014

Appl. No.:

14/215530

Inventors:

- Charlotte NC, US
Billy E. Bingham - Lynchburg VA, US
Ronald C. Watson - Forest VA, US
Jason G. Williams - Concord VA, US
Matthew W. Ales - Issaquah WA, US
James B. Inman - Forest VA, US
Sean M. Boyle - Charlotte NC, US

International Classification:

G21C 15/18
G21C 15/24
G21C 1/32
G21D 3/06

Abstract:

In a pressurized water reactor (PWR), emergency core cooling (ECC) responds to depressurization due to a vessel penetration break at the top of the pressure vessel by draining water from a body of water through an injection line into the pressure vessel. A barrier operates concurrently with the ECC to suppress flow of liquid water from the pressure vessel out the vessel penetration break. The barrier may comprise one or more of: (1) an injection line extension passing through the central riser to drain water into the central riser; (2) openings in a lower portion of a central riser to shunt some upward flow from the central riser into a lower portion of the downcomer annulus; and (3) a surge line providing fluid communication between a pressurizer volume at the top of the pressure vessel and the remainder of the pressure vessel which directs water outboard toward the downcomer annulus.