Diffusion-Bonded Nuclear Pressure Vessel Wall Heat Transfer
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing nuclear reactor systems face challenges in efficiently transferring thermal energy from the primary working fluid to the secondary working fluid while maintaining isolation and radiation shielding, as well as containing high pressures and temperatures within the pressure vessel.
Innovation Solution
A pressure vessel with a unitary metallic structure, featuring diffusion-bonded metallic plates, that includes vertically extending primary and secondary working fluid circuits, a heat exchanger, and a radiation shield, allowing for thermal energy transfer and radiation attenuation while isolating fluids and containing nuclear fuel.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If a pressure vessel contains both primary and secondary working fluid circuits, then thermal energy transfer between fluids is enabled, but fluid isolation and radiation shielding become more difficult to maintain
Solution Approach 1:
The pressure vessel wall is segmented into multiple metallic plates (first metallic plate, second metallic plate, third metallic plate) that are diffusion-bonded together. Each plate contains specific circuits or structures, creating distinct functional zones that maintain fluid isolation while enabling thermal energy transfer through the bonded interfaces.
Solution Approach 2:
The primary and secondary working fluid circuits are nested within the multi-plate wall structure. The circuits are contained within channels formed by the diffusion-bonded plates, with the radiation shield nested between the primary circuit and the external environment, achieving both thermal transfer and radiation protection within a compact integrated structure.
2Strength
If diffusion-bonded metallic plates are used to form the pressure vessel wall, then structural integrity under high pressure and temperature is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The pressure vessel wall is divided into multiple separate metallic plates that can be manufactured and prepared individually before assembly. This segmentation allows for standardized production of each plate with pre-formed channels and structures, reducing overall manufacturing complexity despite the advanced diffusion-bonding process required.
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple metallic plates are merged through diffusion bonding to create a unified structure with enhanced strength and thermal conductivity. The bonding process fuses the plates at the molecular level, creating joints that are as strong as or stronger than the base material, thereby achieving superior structural integrity under high pressure and temperature conditions.
3Use of energy by moving object
If the pressure vessel contains vertically extending primary and secondary working fluid circuits, then thermal energy transfer efficiency is improved, but maintaining fluid isolation becomes more challenging
Solution Approach 1:
The vertical fluid circuits are segmented into horizontal sections by each metallic plate, with diffusion bonds creating isolation barriers between sections. This segmentation approach maintains vertical thermal energy transfer while using the bonded plate interfaces to prevent fluid mixing, reducing the complexity of isolation mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The diffusion-bonded metallic plate interfaces act as intermediary barriers between the primary and secondary fluid circuits. These bonded interfaces provide both mechanical support and fluid isolation, enabling vertical circuit extension without requiring additional complex sealing or isolation components.
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 transfers thermal energy from the primary to the secondary working fluid, maintains steady-state temperature conditions, and shields radiation, while containing high pressures and temperatures, enhancing the efficiency and safety of nuclear reactor operations.
Implementation Method 1
The wall of the pressure vessel further: defines a heat exchanger configured to transfer thermal energy from the primary working fluid circulating through the primary working fluid circuit into the secondary working fluid circulating through the secondary working fluid circuit
Implementation Method 2
The wall of the pressure vessel further: defines a radiation shield configured to attenuate radiation emitted by the nuclear fuel
Implementation Method 3
A pressure vessel with a unitary metallic structure, featuring diffusion-bonded metallic plates
Data Source
AI summary
A system includes a nuclear reactor pressure vessel comprising a heat exchange wall. An interior of the vessel contains nuclear fuel which heats a primary fluid. A primary fluid circuit extends vertically within the wall. The primary fluid circulates in a loop that includes the interior and the primary fluid circuit in the wall. A secondary fluid circuit also extends vertically within the wall, and is fluidly isolated from the primary fluid circuit. A secondary fluid circulates in a loop that includes a power generating system and the secondary fluid circuit in the wall. The wall acts as a heat exchanger in which thermal energy is transferred to the wall from primary fluid flowing through the primary fluid circuit, and then is transferred from the wall to secondary fluid flowing through the secondary fluid circuit.