Elastic Membrane Strainer for Nuclear Cooling
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing strainer designs for nuclear power plants face challenges in efficiently removing entrained solids and debris from cooling liquids while minimizing head loss, particularly in the presence of fibrous materials and chemical precipitates, which can lead to flow blockage and increased pressure drop, and are often too large or costly for limited spaces.
Innovation Solution
A modular strainer system with elastic metal membranes and non-perforated face plates that allow for controlled liquid flow and reduce head loss by creating flow paths as debris accumulates, and a double cylinder strainer construction with rupture discs or segmented membranes to manage pressure and debris effectively.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If existing strainer designs are used to remove entrained solids from cooling liquid, then solids removal is achieved, but head loss increases and flow blockage occurs due to fibrous material accumulation
Solution Approach 1:
The strainer is divided into multiple functional zones: a first strainer section with openings for initial solids removal, and a second strainer section with different opening configurations for fine filtration. This segmentation allows different sections to handle different types of debris, maintaining overall effectiveness while reducing clogging in any single section.
Solution Approach 2:
The strainer incorporates flexible or movable components that can adapt to debris accumulation. The design allows the strainer elements to flex or adjust their configuration based on the load, preventing rigid blockage and maintaining flow paths even when solids are present.
2Reliability
If strainer surface area is increased to handle high fiber loads, then solids removal effectiveness improves, but device size and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
Different regions of the strainer have different opening sizes and densities optimized for specific functions. The first strainer section has larger openings for bulk solids removal, while the second section has smaller openings for fine particulate filtration. This local optimization allows effective solids removal across the entire strainer without requiring uniform high-density filtration across all surfaces.
Solution Approach 2:
The strainer design incorporates nested or concentric strainer sections where one strainer is positioned within or around another. This nested configuration allows multiple filtration stages to be achieved within a compact overall footprint, effectively increasing the functional filtration surface area without proportionally increasing the device's external dimensions.
3Measurement precision
If strainer openings are made smaller to capture fine particulates, then filtration precision improves, but flow rate decreases and head loss increases
Solution Approach 1:
The strainer is divided into multiple sections with different opening sizes. The first strainer section has larger openings that maintain high flow rates while removing bulk solids, and the second strainer section has smaller openings for fine particulate filtration. This segmentation allows the system to achieve both high filtration precision and maintain adequate flow rates by distributing the filtration function across multiple stages.
Solution Approach 2:
The strainer design incorporates flexible or movable elements that can adapt their effective opening size based on flow conditions and debris load. This dynamic behavior allows the strainer to maintain larger effective openings during high-flow conditions while still providing fine filtration when needed, balancing flow rate and filtration precision.
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 modular strainer system effectively reduces the maximum differential pressure across the strainer, minimizes the required strainer surface area, and maintains efficient coolant flow even with high fiber loads, addressing the limitations of existing designs by providing a cost-effective and space-efficient solution.
Implementation Method 1
The membrane remains closed when only a low pressure load is exerted thereon, but is deflected or deformed into an open position when a high pressure load is exerted thereon
Implementation Method 2
the rupture disc or segmented membrane covering the inflow end of one or more of the primary strainer elements is operative to move from a normally closed position to an open position allowing direct liquid flow into the interior of the inner wall of the primary strainer element
Data Source
AI summary
In accordance with the present invention, there is provided an increased efficiency strainer system which is particularly suited for use in the emergency core cooling system of a nuclear power plant. In certain embodiments of the present invention, the strainer system includes one or more strainer cassettes or cartridges, with each such cassette or cartridge including a plurality of strainer pockets disposed in side-by-side relation to each other. In these embodiments, multiple cassettes or cartridges may be assembled together to form a strainer module of the strainer system. The strainer pockets of the cartridge each define an inflow end. Within the cartridge, or the module including multiple cartridges, the inflow ends of one or more of the strainer pockets may be enclosed by an elastic metal membrane. When in a closed position, the membrane prevents liquid flow into the corresponding strainer pocket via the inflow end thereof. The membrane remains closed when only a low pressure load is exerted thereon, but is deflected or deformed into an open position when a high pressure load is exerted thereon. The movement of the membrane to its open position effectively opens the corresponding strainer pocket, thus allowing for the flow of liquid into the interior of the strainer pocket via the inflow end thereof.