Nuclear Sump Active Filter With Turbine Self-Cleaning Strainers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing strainers in nuclear power plants suffer from insufficient cleaning efficiency and energy loss due to the use of external pumps and turbines, leading to potential clogging and reduced safety during emergency conditions.
Innovation Solution
An active strainer design that utilizes the energy of the fluid flow to activate a cleaning mechanism only when the strainer surfaces are dirty, featuring a turbine-driven cleaning pipe system with nozzles to spray purified fluid in various angles, cleaning the filtering elements without external energy sources.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If external pumps and turbines are used to drive the cleaning mechanism, then the strainer can be cleaned continuously, but energy loss increases and the system becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The strainer cleaning system uses the kinetic energy of the fluid flow passing through the strainer itself to drive the turbine and rotate the cleaning pipes, eliminating the need for external power sources. The system serves itself by utilizing its own operating conditions (fluid flow) to perform the cleaning function.
Solution Approach 2:
The cleaning function is merged with the fluid flow path. The turbine is positioned within the strainer housing so that the same fluid flow that passes through the filtering elements also drives the turbine, combining the filtration and cleaning functions into a single integrated system.
2Reliability
If external pumps are used to supply cleaning fluid, then the cleaning mechanism can operate reliably, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses the existing fluid flow from the strainer operation to drive the turbine and rotate the cleaning pipes, eliminating the need for external pumps or power sources. The cleaning mechanism is self-activating based on the fluid flow conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The turbine serves dual functions: it converts the kinetic energy of the fluid flow into rotational motion, and this same rotational motion drives the cleaning pipes to clean the strainer surfaces. One component (turbine) performs multiple functions (energy conversion and driving the cleaning mechanism).
3Reliability
If the turbine rotates constantly to drive cleaning pipes, then the strainer surfaces are cleaned continuously, but fluid flow energy is constantly reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The turbine and cleaning mechanism operate periodically rather than continuously. The turbine rotates only when sufficient fluid flow is present to overcome the turbine resistance and generate rotational motion, naturally creating a periodic operation cycle that adapts to the actual clogging conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system is dynamic and adaptive - the turbine rotation speed and cleaning action intensity automatically adjust based on the fluid flow conditions and the degree of strainer clogging. When the strainer is clean, flow is high and the turbine rotates faster; when clogged, flow decreases and the turbine rotation naturally slows or stops, reducing energy consumption.
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
Enhances strainer efficiency and safety by reducing energy loss and preventing clogging, ensuring reliable coolant supply to the reactor core during emergencies.
Implementation Method 1
a turbine with a turbine shaft, said turbine being installed between the upper part and the lower part of the housing and configured to rotate during a fluid flow passage through it
Implementation Method 2
each cleaning pipe comprises an opening at the level of the first end forming the intake of purified fluid
Data Source
Figure 1A~1C
Figure 2~3
Figure 4
AI summary
An active filter of a sump tank at a nuclear power station ensures safe operation of the facility in the event of an accident by providing an uninterrupted supply of a cooling liquid to the core of the nuclear reactor. During an accident, foreign matter and debris appear in the cooling liquid and clog a bottom filtering element of the active filter. The liquid flow is fed through a top filtering element of a filter housing, thus causing a turbine to rotate, which rotation causes the purified liquid to be drawn from the filter housing through filter pipes which feed said purified liquid by centrifugal force through jets to filtering elements, while forcing the foreign matter and debris away from said filtering elements and, thus, performing the self-cleaning of the filter.