Remote Heat Removal System for Nuclear Containment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional heat removal systems are ineffective in inaccessible or highly contaminated environments, such as a reactor containment building during a severe nuclear accident, where electrical power is lost and human intervention is not feasible, requiring a mechanism that does not rely on electrical power or local intervention to safely manage heat without spreading contamination.
Innovation Solution
A remote heat removal system with a heat exchanger positioned within the hazardous environment, utilizing a secondary coolant from a remote reservoir driven by a pump outside the hazardous area, and a hydraulic fluid transport mechanism to circulate coolant and drive a pump, allowing for heat transfer without electrical components within the hazardous area, ensuring containment of contamination.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If a conventional heat exchanger is used in a hazardous environment, then heat removal capability is provided, but electrical power is required and electrical motors may not tolerate the hazardous environment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces electrical motors with a hydraulic motor that is driven by a fluid coupling mechanism. The hydraulic motor is positioned outside the hazardous environment and connected through a fluid coupling that transmits rotational force without requiring electrical power inside the containment building. This mechanical substitution eliminates the reliability issues associated with electrical motors in hazardous environments while maintaining heat removal capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a fluid coupling mechanism as an intermediary between the pump outside the hazardous environment and the heat exchanger inside. This fluid coupling transmits mechanical energy through hydraulic fluid without requiring direct mechanical connection or electrical power transmission across the containment boundary, thereby solving the problem of electrical motor tolerance while maintaining heat removal function.
2Temperature
If heat removal equipment is placed within the hazardous environment, then direct heat exchange is achieved, but access for maintenance and operation becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the heat removal system into two separate segments: a heat exchanger segment positioned inside the hazardous environment for direct heat exchange, and a pump/motor segment positioned outside the hazardous environment for fluid circulation. This segmentation allows the heat exchanger to operate in the hazardous environment while the pump and motor can be maintained and operated from a safe, accessible location outside the containment building.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses a flexible coupling or universal joint as an intermediary mechanism to connect the pump outside the hazardous environment to the heat exchanger inside. This intermediary allows for maintenance and operation of the pump from outside the containment building while still enabling effective heat exchange within the hazardous environment, thus resolving the accessibility issue.
3Temperature
If the contaminated inventory is circulated outside the containment building, then heat removal efficiency is improved, but contamination spread risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the heat energy from the contaminated inventory within the containment building using a heat exchanger, while leaving the contaminated fluid itself inside the containment. The heat is transferred to a clean coolant circulating outside the containment, achieving heat removal without extracting or circulating the contaminated inventory outside, thus eliminating contamination spread risk while maintaining heat removal efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a clean coolant as an intermediary medium that absorbs heat from the contaminated inventory through the heat exchanger. This intermediary coolant circulates outside the containment building, allowing efficient heat removal while preventing direct contact between the contaminated inventory and the external environment, thereby eliminating contamination spread risk.
4Extent of automation
If electrical components are used within the hazardous environment, then control and monitoring capability is improved, but risk of sparking and ignition increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts all electrical components (motors, control systems, sensors) from the hazardous environment and positions them outside the containment building. The only component remaining inside the hazardous environment is the heat exchanger, which operates passively through heat transfer. This extraction eliminates the risk of sparking and ignition while maintaining control and monitoring capability through remote sensing and control systems positioned outside the containment.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces electrical control and monitoring systems with hydraulic and mechanical alternatives. The hydraulic motor outside the hazardous environment provides mechanical power, and mechanical linkages or hydraulic actuators provide control functions. This mechanical substitution eliminates electrical components from the hazardous environment, thereby eliminating sparking and ignition risks while maintaining automation capability.
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
Effectively removes heat from contaminated environments without electrical support, preventing the spread of contamination and maintaining safety by using a non-electrically driven system that avoids sparking and ensures containment of hazardous materials.
Implementation Method 1
The heat exchanger has a primary side in heat exchange relationship with a secondary side with the first fluid in fluid communication with the primary side
Implementation Method 2
A pump is positioned outside of the hazardous environment to drive the second fluid through the secondary side of the heat exchanger
Implementation Method 3
a hydraulic fluid transport mechanism that has a first section in fluid communication with the second fluid and a second section in fluid communication with the first fluid, with the first section fluidly isolated from the second section and configured to have the second fluid drive a pump
Data Source
Figure 1~2
AI summary
A remote heat removal system that pumps a secondary fluid from a remote reservoir through a secondary side of a heat exchanger in heat exchange relationship with a primary fluid to be cooled. The secondary fluid drives a motive device that drives the primary fluid through the primary side of the heat exchanger.