Absorbent Material Meltdown Stabilization System
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Solution Overview
Problem
In the event of a core meltdown in a nuclear power plant, the direct contact between molten material and coolant can lead to high-energy interactions, potentially causing steam explosions and compromising containment integrity.
Innovation Solution
A system that uses an absorbent material to absorb the coolant, preventing direct contact with the molten material and reducing the risk of high-energy interactions, while ensuring cooling by gradually releasing the absorbed coolant as it evaporates.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If coolant is introduced into the containment vessel to cool the molten material, then the cooling function is improved, but the risk of steam explosions and containment failure increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an absorbent material as an intermediary substance between the coolant and the molten metal. This absorbent material absorbs the coolant and prevents its direct contact with the molten metal, thereby eliminating the harmful steam explosion risk while still enabling the cooling function through the absorption process.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical state and distribution parameters of the coolant by introducing it into the absorbent material. The coolant transitions from a free-flowing liquid that could cause explosions to an absorbed state within the absorbent material's structure, fundamentally altering its behavior and eliminating the harmful interaction.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If coolant is absorbed by absorbent material to prevent direct contact with melt, then the steam explosion risk is reduced, but the cooling efficiency may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes phase transitions of water (liquid to vapor) within the absorbent material structure. The absorbed coolant evaporates when heated by the molten metal, and this phase transition provides sustained cooling over time while maintaining safety. The phase change ensures continuous heat absorption without requiring direct coolant-melt contact.
3Temperature
If the absorbent material is saturated with coolant, then the cooling function is maximized, but the mechanical resistance decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs preliminary action by pre-saturating the absorbent material with coolant before the actual melting incident. This ensures that when the molten metal contacts the absorbent material, the cooling capacity is already maximized without requiring the absorbent material to maintain high mechanical strength during the cooling process itself.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system effectively limits the risk of steam explosions and maintains containment integrity by fragmenting molten jets and providing cooling through successive evaporation of the coolant, thereby stabilizing the meltdown.
Implementation Method 1
an absorbent material suitable for absorbing the coolant introduced into the space
Implementation Method 2
the coolant bound in the absorbing material is successively released from the structure of the absorbing material, evaporates, and is released into the environment
Implementation Method 3
through contact with the hot melt, the coolant bound in the absorbing material is successively released from the structure of the absorbing material, evaporates
Implementation Method 4
the molten material from the reactor pressure vessel is fragmented upon contact with the absorbent material. For example, jets of molten material exiting the reactor pressure vessel are broken up upon impact with the absorbent material saturated with coolant
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a system (2) for stabilizing a meltdown in a nuclear power plant (1), comprising: - a reactor pressure vessel (4), which contains a reactor core (12), - a safety vessel (6), which defines a chamber (16) arranged underneath the reactor pressure vessel (4), - a coolant supply device (8), which is designed to introduce a coolant into the chamber (16) in the event that a meltdown is detected, - an absorbent material (10), which is suitable for absorbing the coolant introduced into the chamber (16), characterized in that the absorbing material (10) is suitable for expanding when absorbing the coolant.