Flow Damper Asymmetric Junction for Vortex Formation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current flow dampers in emergency core cooling systems for PWR power plants struggle to form a strong vortex in the vortex chamber during small flow injection, resulting in reduced flow resistance and inefficient water injection control.
Innovation Solution
The accumulator features a flow damper design where the junction of the large flow pipe and vortex chamber is located outside the extension line of the small flow pipe's inner surface, with a specific geometry that ensures the free jet from the small flow pipe spreads along the inner peripheral surface of the vortex chamber, preventing detachment and enhancing vortex formation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the junction of the large flow pipe and vortex chamber is located at or inside the extension line of the small flow pipe's inner surface, then the device complexity is reduced, but the vortex formation strength is weakened and flow resistance is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The flow damper employs asymmetric positioning of the large flow pipe junction relative to the small flow pipe extension line. The junction is deliberately placed outside the extension line, creating an asymmetric flow path that guides the free jet to spread along the inner peripheral surface of the vortex chamber. This asymmetry ensures strong vortex formation during small flow injection while maintaining structural simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention utilizes the spatial dimension by positioning the large flow pipe junction in a location that is not collinear with the small flow pipe. This dimensional placement allows the free jet from the small flow pipe to interact with the vortex chamber wall at an angle, promoting spiral flow and strong vortex formation without requiring additional complex components.
2Reliability
If the free jet from the small flow pipe is allowed to spread freely without wall guidance, then the ease of manufacture is improved, but the vortex formation is weakened due to jet detachment
Solution Approach 1:
The vortex chamber inner peripheral surface is designed with specific local geometric features where the free jet spreads. The surface geometry in the region where the jet contacts the wall is optimized to guide the flow attachment and maintain vortex formation. This localized geometric design achieves strong vortex formation using standard manufacturing techniques without requiring complex additional 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
This design allows for the creation of a strong vortex during small flow injection, achieving high flow resistance and effective water injection control, ensuring efficient reflooding of the reactor core during a loss of primary coolant accident.
Implementation Method 1
the free jet from the small flow pipe spreads along the inner peripheral surface of the vortex chamber, preventing detachment and enhancing vortex formation
Implementation Method 2
creation of a strong vortex during small flow injection, achieving high flow resistance
Implementation Method 3
achieving high flow resistance and effective water injection control
Data Source
AI summary
An accumulator provided with a flow damper inside, the flow damper including a cylindrical vortex chamber, a small flow pipe connected to a peripheral portion of the vortex chamber along a tangential direction thereto, a large flow pipe connected to the peripheral portion while forming a predetermined angle with the small flow pipe, and an outlet pipe connected to an outlet formed at a central part of the vortex chamber, in which a first junction of the large flow pipe and the vortex chamber of the flow damper is located outside an extension line of an inner surface, at the side of the large flow pipe, of the small flow pipe.