Nuclear Island Base Slab Natural Convection Cooling

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Solution Overview

Problem

Nuclear island base slabs in nuclear power plants face challenges with prolonged curing times and temperature-related cracking due to heat of hydration, which traditional cooling methods cannot effectively address without external auxiliary equipment, posing risks of concrete strength reduction and radioactive leakage.

Innovation Solution

The integration of post-grouting sunken air ducts with a natural convection circulation system within the concrete base slab, eliminating the need for active cooling equipment and reducing construction complexity and costs, while enhancing heat dissipation and crack prevention.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Temperature

If traditional active cooling water coil method is used, then heat dissipation is improved, but device complexity and reliability risks increase due to external auxiliary equipment and pipeline leakage risks

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveheat dissipationVSAvoidexternal auxiliary equipment

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The air ducts are embedded directly within the concrete base slab body, allowing the structure itself to perform the cooling function through natural convection. The air ducts serve dual purposes: cooling the concrete during curing and providing structural reinforcement, eliminating the need for separate external cooling equipment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical active cooling water coil system with a passive air convection system. Air naturally circulates through the embedded ducts, carrying heat away from the concrete without requiring pumps, valves, or external power sources, thereby reducing device complexity and reliability risks.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Temperature

If active air-cooled technology with external equipment is used, then heat dissipation is improved, but construction difficulty and cost increase due to grouting compactness requirements

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveheat dissipationVSAvoidconstruction difficulty

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The air ducts are integrated into the concrete base slab body as a unified structure. The ducts are embedded during the concrete pouring process, combining the cooling function with the structural element. This merging eliminates the need for separate installation of cooling equipment and simplifies construction.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The air ducts are positioned and prepared before concrete pouring, allowing them to be embedded directly into the fresh concrete. This preliminary arrangement ensures proper positioning and simplifies the overall construction process compared to installing external cooling equipment afterward.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Device complexity

If mass concrete is poured without effective cooling, then construction simplicity is maintained, but temperature stress causes cracks that reduce strength and durability

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecooling systemVSAvoidconcrete strength

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The embedded air ducts enable the concrete structure to cool itself through natural convection during the curing process. The structure performs its own temperature control without external intervention, preventing temperature stress cracks while maintaining construction simplicity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent converts the naturally occurring heat of hydration, which causes temperature stress and cracking, into a beneficial cooling process. The embedded air ducts channel this heat through natural convection, transforming the harmful thermal effect into a controlled cooling mechanism that strengthens the concrete.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

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 approach accelerates the curing process, reduces the risk of cracking, and ensures safe, efficient heat dissipation without external equipment, thereby improving the construction quality and safety of nuclear island base slabs.

Implementation Method 1

By adopting a post-grouting sunken air duct and utilizing natural convection circulation

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectNatural convection circulation: Free Convection

Data Source

PatentUS12139868B2Nuclear island base slab of nuclear power plant, manufacturing method therefor, and nuclear island of nuclear power plant

Publication Date: 2024.11.12 SHANGHAI NUCLEAR ENGINEERING RESEARCH & DESIGN INSTITUTE CO LTD

AI summary

A nuclear island base slab of a nuclear power plant and a manufacturing method therefor, and a nuclear island of a nuclear power plant. The nuclear island base slab of a nuclear power plant includes a concrete base slab body and a plurality of air ducts embedded in the concrete base slab body. The air duct has an internal-penetrating bent pipe structure. A first end of the air duct is exposed on an upper surface of the concrete base slab body. A second end of the air duct is exposed on a side surface or the upper surface of the concrete base slab body.