Pebble Bed Reactor Fuel Handling Pressure Isolation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
In high-temperature gas-cooled nuclear reactors, the existing fuel handling and storage systems face challenges with rapid pressure fluctuations and high temperatures, which can damage components and reduce reliability, especially when exposed to the main power system's conditions.
Innovation Solution
A nuclear plant design featuring a pebble bed reactor with a fuel handling and storage system that includes a sphere flow path with pressurizing means to create a leak flow from the system into the reactor, and damping means like flow restricting indexers to manage pressure fluctuations and prevent hot gas ingress, ensuring components operate at lower temperatures and stable pressures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the fuel handling and storage system is connected directly to the main power system, then spheres can be conveyed efficiently, but components are exposed to high temperatures and rapid pressure fluctuations causing damage and reduced reliability
Solution Approach 1:
The system is divided into two separate loops: a primary loop that handles sphere conveyance between reactor and storage, and a secondary loop that provides temperature and pressure buffering. This segmentation isolates the fuel handling components from direct exposure to extreme conditions while maintaining operational efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
A secondary coolant loop acts as an intermediary between the reactor core and the fuel handling system. This intermediate loop absorbs temperature and pressure fluctuations, protecting the fuel handling components while still enabling effective sphere conveyance through the primary loop.
2Ease of operation
If components are exposed to high temperatures in the main power system, then sphere conveyance can be maintained, but component damage occurs and design complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The dual-loop architecture segments the thermal management functions, allowing the primary loop to focus on sphere conveyance while the secondary loop handles temperature regulation. This reduces design complexity for each individual component while maintaining overall operational simplicity.
3Adaptability or versatility
If rapid pressure fluctuations occur during faulted operation or power control, then power adjustment can be achieved, but component damage and reduced reliability result
Solution Approach 1:
The secondary loop is designed to absorb pressure fluctuations before they reach the fuel handling components. This beforehand cushioning protects sensitive components from damage during faulted operations or power adjustments, maintaining system reliability while preserving adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The secondary coolant loop serves as a mediator that decouples the pressure fluctuations from the fuel handling system. This intermediary allows power control operations to proceed while protecting components from damaging pressure variations.
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 inhibits the ingress of hot gas into the fuel handling and storage system, reduces component damage from pressure fluctuations, and allows for cost-effective and reliable operation by maintaining lower temperatures and stable helium pressure, thereby enhancing system reliability and reducing design complexities.
Implementation Method 1
sphere flow path pressurizing means configured to create a flow of gas along at least part of the sphere flow path to convey spheres along the at least part of the sphere flow path
Implementation Method 2
the pressure at the sphere inlet of the sphere flow path is higher than the pressure at the sphere outlet of the reactor and the pressure at the sphere outlet of the sphere flow path is higher than the pressure at the sphere inlet of the reactor such that gas flows from the fuel handling and storage system into the reactor
Data Source
AI summary
This invention relates to a nuclear plant including a main power system and a fuel handling and storage system. The system is connected to a sphere inlet and a sphere outlet of a multi-pass high temperature gas cooled pebble bed reactor. The system is configured such that gas flows from the system into the reactor through both the sphere inlet and the sphere outlet thereby inhibiting the ingress of high temperature gas from the reactor into the system. Restricting indexers permit the movement of spheres between the reactor and the system and dampen out the transmission of pressure fluctuations from the power system to the system.