Modular Cavern Layout for Underground Nuclear Plant Construction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional construction layouts for underground nuclear power plant caverns are irregular, leading to hidden risks and increased construction time and costs due to random distribution of primary caverns, which complicates the construction of adits.
Innovation Solution
A modularized construction layout for underground nuclear power plant caverns, featuring two primary caverns with surrounding electric, safe, nuclear fuel, and auxiliary powerhouse caverns, connected by traffic tunnels and steam channels, utilizing a top and bottom adit system for efficient excavation and slag discharge, minimizing the number of construction channels required.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If conventional irregular construction layouts are used for underground nuclear power plant caverns, then the design flexibility is maintained, but the construction time increases and hidden risks arise from heavy excavation of terrain
Solution Approach 1:
The construction layout is segmented into standardized modular units (cavern groups) that can be systematically arranged. Each cavern group contains primary caverns, auxiliary caverns, and adits configured in a predetermined pattern, allowing the overall plant to be divided into multiple identical or similar modules that can be constructed in parallel, thereby reducing total construction time while maintaining design flexibility through replication
Solution Approach 2:
The invention applies preliminary action by pre-configuring the cavern groups with optimized internal layouts and adit connections before actual construction begins. The standardized design of cavern groups with predetermined positions for primary caverns, auxiliary caverns, and adits allows for advance preparation of construction plans, resource allocation, and sequencing, which significantly accelerates the construction process while reducing on-site decision-making complexity
2Ease of manufacture
If random distribution of primary caverns is used, then design adaptability is maintained, but the construction of adits is complicated and investment cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The adit system is segmented into standardized adit groups that are pre-configured to connect to specific cavern positions within each cavern group. This segmentation allows adits to be constructed in a systematic, repeatable pattern rather than as custom, unique connections for each cavern, greatly simplifying the construction process while maintaining adaptability through the replication of standardized modules
Solution Approach 2:
The invention applies universality by designing standardized adit configurations that can serve multiple cavern groups in the same manner. The adits are designed with universal connection points and routing patterns that can be replicated across different locations in the plant, allowing the same adit design to be used repeatedly for different cavern groups, thereby simplifying construction while maintaining flexibility to adapt to different plant configurations through replication
3Reliability
If heavy excavation of terrain is performed to accommodate irregular cavern distribution, then design flexibility is maintained, but hidden risks and construction costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The excavation process is segmented into standardized patterns corresponding to the modular cavern groups. Each cavern group requires a predetermined, optimized excavation pattern that has been pre-designed to minimize terrain disruption while accommodating all necessary caverns and adits. This segmentation allows excavation to be performed in repeatable, controlled units rather than as a complex, irregular overall excavation, thereby reducing hidden risks and improving construction safety
Solution Approach 2:
The invention applies preliminary action by pre-designing the excavation patterns for each cavern group before construction begins. The optimized excavation layouts are determined in advance based on geological surveys and engineering requirements, allowing for proper planning of support structures, drainage systems, and safety measures before actual excavation occurs. This advance planning significantly reduces hidden risks and improves construction safety while maintaining necessary design flexibility
Data Source
AI summary
A construction layout for caverns of an underground nuclear power plant, including: two primary caverns accommodating nuclear reactor powerhouses, electric powerhouse caverns, safe powerhouse caverns, auxiliary powerhouse caverns, nuclear fuel powerhouse caverns, connecting powerhouse caverns, a first primary traffic tunnel, a third primary traffic tunnel, a second primary traffic tunnel, a fourth primary traffic tunnel, and a primary steam channel. The electric powerhouse caverns, the safe powerhouse caverns, and the nuclear fuel powerhouse caverns are arranged along the longitudinal direction of the mountain. Each of the safe powerhouse caverns and each of the nuclear fuel powerhouse caverns are disposed on two sides of each of the two primary caverns in the longitudinal direction of the mountain, respectively. Each of the electric powerhouse caverns and each of the safe powerhouse caverns are located on a same side of each the two primary caverns.