Pressure-Actuated Malfunction Prevention Valve for Nuclear Main Valves
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing nuclear reactors face the challenge of malfunction prevention valves failing to prevent the opening of main valves during normal operation, which could lead to unintended emergency core cooling, necessitating a reliable and simple configuration.
Innovation Solution
A malfunction prevention valve system that includes a malfunction prevention valve body, a plunger, a plunger movement driving plate, and an elastic member, which operates based on pressure differences between the reactor and containment vessel to prevent the main valve from opening during normal operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a malfunction prevention valve is designed to prevent main valve opening during normal operation, then reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The malfunction prevention valve integrates multiple functional components including a valve body, plunger, driving plate, and elastic member into a single unified device that prevents main valve opening during normal operation while allowing emergency core cooling when needed
Solution Approach 2:
The malfunction prevention valve acts as an intermediary safety device between the trip valve and main valve, using pressure differential detection and elastic member actuation to mediate and prevent erroneous main valve opening while maintaining the original emergency cooling function
2Device complexity
If a simple malfunction prevention valve configuration is used, then device complexity is reduced, but reliability in malfunction prevention deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The malfunction prevention valve uses self-service mechanisms where the pressure differential between the reactor interior and containment vessel automatically actuates the plunger through the driving plate, eliminating the need for external control systems while maintaining high reliability in preventing erroneous main valve opening
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
The system effectively prevents the main valve from opening during normal operation, ensuring high reliability and a simple configuration for emergency core cooling.
Implementation Method 1
a malfunction prevention elastic member configured to provide an elastic force to the plunger movement driving plate in a direction in which the malfunction prevention plunger opens the malfunction prevention flow path
Implementation Method 2
a force resulting from a difference in pressure between one side of the malfunction prevention flow path and an exterior is provided to the plunger movement driving plate in a direction in which the malfunction prevention plunger closes the malfunction prevention flow path
Data Source
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AI summary
A malfunction prevention valve includes: a malfunction prevention valve body in which a malfunction prevention flow path is formed; a malfunction prevention plunger movably disposed in the malfunction prevention valve body to open and close the malfunction prevention flow path; a plunger movement driving plate movably disposed in the malfunction prevention valve body such that one surface of the plunger movement driving plate is connected to the malfunction prevention plunger; and a malfunction prevention elastic member configured to provide an elastic force to the plunger movement driving plate in a direction in which the malfunction prevention plunger opens the malfunction prevention flow path. A force resulting from a difference in pressure between one side of the malfunction prevention flow path and an exterior is provided to the plunger movement driving plate in a direction in which the malfunction prevention plunger closes the malfunction prevention flow path.