Modular Cavern Layout for Underground Nuclear Power Plant
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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, comprising two primary caverns for nuclear reactor powerhouses, combined caverns, electric powerhouse caverns, pressure relief caverns, and primary traffic tunnels, with a top adit system and ground adit system designed to minimize construction channels and facilitate efficient excavation using the ore pass method.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If primary caverns are distributed randomly in conventional layouts, then construction flexibility is maintained, but construction time increases and investment cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cavern system is segmented into standardized modules including primary caverns, combined caverns, electric powerhouse caverns, and pressure relief caverns. Each module has predetermined dimensions and functions, allowing systematic arrangement along the mountain longitudinal direction rather than random distribution, thereby reducing construction time while maintaining adaptability through modular configuration.
Solution Approach 2:
The adit systems (top adits and bottom adits) are pre-planned and positioned according to the standardized cavern layout before construction begins. This preliminary arrangement of access tunnels and slag discharge channels optimizes the construction sequence and reduces on-site decision-making time, addressing the time loss issue while preserving flexibility through the modular design framework.
2Adaptability or versatility
If primary caverns are distributed randomly in conventional layouts, then site adaptation is maintained, but investment cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
By dividing the power plant into standardized cavern modules, the design achieves economies of scale in construction. The repetitive use of standardized primary caverns, combined caverns, and associated adit systems reduces per-unit construction cost while maintaining site adaptation through flexible arrangement of these modules along the mountain longitudinal direction.
Solution Approach 2:
The standardized cavern modules are designed with universal dimensions and configurations that can be replicated multiple times. The top adit and bottom adit systems serve multiple functions including access, material transport, and slag discharge across different cavern types, reducing overall infrastructure requirements and investment cost while maintaining adaptability to different site conditions.
3Adaptability or versatility
If cavern distribution is irregular in conventional layouts, then terrain utilization is flexible, but hidden risks increase
Solution Approach 1:
The irregular terrain is managed by segmenting the cavern system into standardized modules arranged systematically along the mountain longitudinal direction. This segmentation allows each module to be constructed with controlled geometry and support systems, reducing geological uncertainties and safety risks while maintaining overall adaptability to the terrain through modular positioning.
Solution Approach 2:
The adit systems are pre-positioned to provide controlled access and support to each cavern module before final construction. This preliminary arrangement ensures proper ground support, drainage, and access routes are established in advance, mitigating safety risks associated with irregular terrain while preserving flexible terrain utilization through the modular layout.
4Loss of time
If modularized layout is implemented, then construction time is reduced and costs decrease, but construction complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
While segmentation into standardized modules reduces construction time through repetition and pre-planning, it initially increases design complexity. However, this complexity is managed through systematic arrangement rules where modules are positioned along the mountain longitudinal direction with standardized adit connections, transforming design complexity into constructability advantages during actual construction.
Solution Approach 2:
The construction layout complexity is resolved through preliminary planning of the adit systems and module arrangements. By pre-defining the top adit and bottom adit configurations for each module type before construction begins, the complexity is shifted to the design phase, allowing simplified and faster execution during the construction phase itself, thereby reducing overall construction time.
Data Source
AI summary
A construction layout for caverns of an underground nuclear power plant, including: two primary caverns accommodating nuclear reactor powerhouses, combined caverns, electric powerhouse caverns, pressure relief caverns, a first primary traffic tunnel, a second primary traffic tunnel, a third primary traffic tunnel, a top adit system, and a ground adit system. Each combined cavern is disposed on one side of each of the two primary caverns. Each electric powerhouse cavern and each pressure relief cavern are disposed on two sides of each of the two primary caverns perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the mountain. Each electric powerhouse cavern is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the mountain. The first primary traffic tunnel and the third primary traffic tunnel are disposed along the longitudinal direction of the mountain on outer sides of the two combined caverns, respectively.