Dual-Filter System for Nuclear Cooling Water Debris Removal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Nuclear power generation facilities face challenges in filtering cooling water due to the need for balancing fluid throughput, debris removal, and pressure head losses, as very fine filters effectively remove small debris but incur high pressure losses, while coarse filters allow smaller particles to pass, and physical space constraints limit filter surface area.
Innovation Solution
A dual-filter system is introduced, comprising a primary filter with larger pore size and a secondary filter with smaller pore size, arranged in a configuration that increases the total filtering surface area, including secondary frames with corrugations and angled structures to support and bias the filters, ensuring efficient debris removal with minimal pressure head loss.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If very fine filters are used to remove small debris, then debris removal effectiveness is improved, but pressure head losses increase
Solution Approach 1:
The filter system is divided into multiple filter elements arranged in parallel, where each element handles a portion of the total flow. This segmentation allows the use of finer filtering media while distributing the flow load, thereby maintaining low pressure drops across each individual filter element while achieving effective debris removal across the entire system.
Solution Approach 2:
The filter elements are arranged in a three-dimensional configuration within the housing, utilizing vertical and horizontal spacing to maximize the filtering surface area within the available volume. This dimensional arrangement increases the total filtering capacity without proportionally increasing the pressure head losses, as the flow is distributed across multiple pathways.
2Loss of energy
If coarse filters are used to maintain low pressure losses, then pressure head losses are reduced, but smaller particles pass through
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple filter elements with coarse filtering media are arranged in parallel to provide sufficient total filtering surface area. The segmentation allows each element to handle low flow rates, maintaining low pressure drops while the cumulative effect of all elements achieves effective removal of smaller particles that would pass through a single coarse filter.
3Reliability
If filter surface area is increased to improve debris removal, then debris removal effectiveness is improved, but physical space constraints are exceeded
Solution Approach 1:
The filter elements are arranged in a compact three-dimensional configuration within the housing, utilizing vertical stacking and horizontal positioning to maximize the filtering surface area within the available volume. This allows the system to achieve high debris removal effectiveness without exceeding the physical space constraints of the installation environment.
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple filter elements are nested or stacked within the housing structure, with each element positioned to utilize the available space efficiently. This nesting arrangement allows the cumulative filter surface area to exceed what would be possible with a single flat filter, while remaining within the physical boundaries of the housing.
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 dual-filter system effectively removes debris while maintaining low pressure head losses and resisting clogging, providing increased filtering performance and space efficiency by distributing debris over a larger surface area, thus ensuring reliable fluid recirculation in nuclear power generation facilities.
Implementation Method 1
a primary filter supported on the frame and covering the at least one inlet opening such that fluid passes into the enclosed volume through the primary filter; a secondary filter supported on the secondary frame defining an enclosed flow passage
Data Source
AI summary
A filtering apparatus for a fluid intake of a nuclear power generation facility comprise primary and secondary frames. The primary frame defines an enclosed volume having least one inlet opening, and at least one outlet opening in fluid communication with the fluid intake. A primary filter is supported on the primary frame and covers the inlet opening such that fluid passes into the enclosed volume through the primary filter. The secondary frame is located within the volume enclosed by the primary frame. A secondary filter is supported on the secondary frame and defines an enclosed flow passage in communication with the outlet opening, such that fluid passes into the at least one outlet opening through the secondary filter and the enclosed flow passage.