Debris filters

Abstract

A filter for reactor coolant may include a plurality of adjacent plates. Each of the plates may include a plurality of alternating peaks and valleys. The peaks of a first plate of the plurality of adjacent plates and the valleys of a second plate of the plurality of adjacent plates that is adjacent to the first plate may be aligned in parallel such that each peak of the first plate and an associated valley of the second plate define a closed channel. The closed channels may be at an angle to a flow path of the reactor coolant into the filter. The filter may be shaped such that the reactor coolant from the flow path enters the closed channels, flows at the angle, and does not flow between the closed channels.

1 . A filter for reactor coolant, the filter comprising:
 a plurality of adjacent plates;   wherein each of the plates includes a plurality of alternating peaks and valleys,   wherein the peaks of a first plate of the plurality of adjacent plates and the valleys of a second plate of the plurality of adjacent plates that is adjacent to the first plate are aligned in parallel such that each peak of the first plate and an associated valley of the second plate define a closed channel,   wherein the closed channels are at an angle to a flow path of the reactor coolant into the filter, and   wherein the filter is shaped such that the reactor coolant from the flow path enters the closed channels, flows at the angle, and does not flow between the closed channels.   
     
     
         2 . The filter of  claim 1 , wherein each plate is a corrugated plate. 
     
     
         3 . The filter of  claim 1 , wherein the angle is greater than or equal to 15 degrees. 
     
     
         4 . The filter of  claim 1 , wherein each closed channel has a substantially rectangular cross-section. 
     
     
         5 . The filter of  claim 1 , wherein each closed channel has a substantially square cross-section. 
     
     
         6 . The filter of  claim 1 , wherein each closed channel has a cross-sectional area that is less than or equal to about 0.04 square inches. 
     
     
         7 . A multistage filter for reactor coolant, the filter comprising:
 a first filter including a plurality of adjacent first plates; and   a second filter, adjacent to the first filter, including a plurality of adjacent second plates;   wherein each of the first plates includes a plurality of alternating peaks and valleys,   wherein the peaks of one plate of the plurality of adjacent first plates and the valleys of another plate of the plurality of adjacent first plates that is adjacent to the one plate of the plurality of adjacent first plates are aligned in parallel such that each peak of the one plate of the plurality of adjacent first plates and an associated valley of the another plate of the plurality of adjacent first plates define a first closed channel,   wherein the first closed channels are at a first angle to a flow path of the reactor coolant into the first filter,   wherein the first filter is shaped such that the reactor coolant from the flow path into the first filter enters the first closed channels, flows at the first angle, and does not flow between the first closed channels,   wherein each of the second plates includes a plurality of alternating peaks and valleys,   wherein the peaks of one plate of the plurality of adjacent second plates and the valleys of another plate of the plurality of adjacent second plates that is adjacent to the one plate of the plurality of adjacent second plates are aligned in parallel such that each peak of the one plate of the plurality of adjacent second plates and an associated valley of the another plate of the plurality of adjacent second plates define a second closed channel,   wherein the second closed channels are at a second angle to a flow path of the reactor coolant into the second filter, and   wherein the second filter is shaped such that the reactor coolant from the flow path into the second filter enters the second closed channels, flows at the second angle, and does not flow between the second closed channels.   
     
     
         8 . The multistage filter of  claim 7 , wherein the second closed channels are offset from the first closed channels such that the reactor coolant flow in each second closed channel includes reactor coolant from multiple first closed channels. 
     
     
         9 . The multistage filter of  claim 8 , wherein each first closed channel is aligned to four or more second closed channels such that about ¼ of each second closed channel cross-sectional area is aligned to four different first closed channels. 
     
     
         10 . The multistage filter of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 a plurality of connecting members configured to fixedly connect the second filter to the first filter;   wherein the connecting members are configured to create a substantially unobstructed intermediate zone between the first filter and the second filter.   
     
     
         11 . The multistage filter of  claim 10 , wherein when the plurality of connecting members fixedly connect the second filter to the first filter, the second filter is spaced apart from the first filter by about 0.04 inches. 
     
     
         12 . The multistage filter of  claim 7 , wherein a peak of the one plate of the plurality of adjacent first plates is aligned to a valley of the another plate of the plurality of adjacent second plates. 
     
     
         13 . The multistage filter of  claim 7 , wherein the first angle is greater than or equal to 15 degrees,
 wherein the second angle is greater than or equal to about 150 degrees from the first angle, and   wherein the first angle and the second angle are of opposite signs.   
     
     
         14 . The multistage filter of  claim 7 , wherein the second angle is less than or equal to about 150 degrees from the first angle. 
     
     
         15 . The multistage filter of  claim 7 , wherein each first plate is a corrugated plate, or
 wherein each second plate is a corrugated plate.   
     
     
         16 . The multistage filter of  claim 7 , wherein each first plate is a corrugated plate, and
 wherein each second plate is a corrugated plate.   
     
     
         17 . The multistage filter of  claim 7 , wherein each first closed channel has a substantially rectangular cross-section, or
 wherein each second closed channel has a substantially rectangular cross-section.   
     
     
         18 . The multistage filter of  claim 7 , wherein each first closed channel has a substantially square cross-section, or
 wherein each second closed channel has a substantially square cross-section.   
     
     
         19 . The multistage filter of  claim 7 , each first closed channel has a cross-sectional area that is less than or equal to about 0.04 square inches, or
 each second closed channel has a cross-sectional area that is less than or equal to about 0.04 square inches.   
     
     
         20 . The multistage filter of  claim 7 , each first closed channel has a cross-sectional area that is less than or equal to about 0.04 square inches, and
 each second closed channel has a cross-sectional area that is less than or equal to about 0.04 square inches.