Radioactive Sodium Destruction Layout With Tank Pressure Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing facilities for the destruction of radioactive metallic sodium are complex and costly due to their design, making them economically inefficient for limited treatment capacities.
Innovation Solution
A simplified sodium destruction facility with a single-level layout, utilizing a sodium storage tank at a lower level and a sodium circulation member at a higher level, controlled by an inert gas supply to maintain a constant suction pressure, eliminating the need for a charge tank and reducing facility volume.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a multi-level facility design with charge tank and dosing pump is used, then sodium flow control is achieved, but facility complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the charge tank and dosing pump from the facility design. By extracting these components, the system eliminates the need for complex multi-level architecture while maintaining sodium flow control through a simplified single-level design with direct gravity feed from storage tank to reaction vessel.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the functions of the charge tank and dosing pump into the main sodium storage tank and gravity feed system. The storage tank directly feeds sodium to the reaction vessel through gravity, combining what were previously separate components into a unified simple system.
2Stability of the object's composition
If a multi-level facility design with charge tank is used, then sodium supply stability is ensured, but facility volume increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the charge tank that occupied significant volume. By extracting this component and using a single-level storage tank with gravity feed, the facility achieves sodium supply stability with considerably reduced overall volume.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses gravity feed from the storage tank to the reaction vessel, creating a natural flow path where sodium moves from higher potential energy (storage tank) to lower potential energy (reaction vessel) without requiring additional pumping equipment or complex multi-level architecture.
3Device complexity
If simplified single-level design is used, then facility complexity is reduced, but suction pressure control becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses gravity to automatically control sodium flow from the storage tank to the reaction vessel. The suction pressure is self-regulating based on the height difference between the storage tank and reaction vessel, eliminating the need for complex pressure control mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent designs the system so that sodium flows from a higher elevation (storage tank) to a lower elevation (reaction vessel) through gravity. This height difference creates a natural pressure gradient that controls flow without requiring active pressure regulation systems.
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 simplified design reduces facility complexity and cost by maintaining controlled sodium flow and reaction stability, achieving efficient sodium conversion into soda ash while minimizing the risk of hydrogen accumulation and explosion.
Implementation Method 1
a controller, driving the inert gas supply unit to control a gas pressure in the sodium storage tank such that a suction pressure of the sodium circulating member is maintained within a predetermined range
Implementation Method 2
a sodium feed circuit, comprising a sodium circulation member located at a second level with respect to the ground higher than the first level, the circulation member having a suction in fluid communication with the sodium storage tank and a discharge in fluid communication with the reaction vessel
Implementation Method 3
The sodium delivered by the dosing pump 11 is injected from above into the reaction vessel 19 and reacts with a stream of soda ash. The sodium is thus converted into soda ash, with the release of hydrogen gas.
Implementation Method 4
The heat exchanger 27 allows the thermal energy released by the reaction of the sodium with the aqueous solution to be removed.
Implementation Method 5
A heat exchanger 27 is interposed on the recirculation circuit 23. It is connected to a cooling unit 29. The heat exchanger 27 allows the thermal energy released by the reaction of the sodium with the aqueous solution to be removed.
Implementation Method 6
The liquid metallic sodium storage tank 3 receives the sodium to be treated and feeds it into a sodium feed circuit 5 by means of an electromagnetic pump 7.
Implementation Method 7
The dosing pump is placed at a lower level than the charge tank 9, and its suction is fed by gravity from the charge tank 9.
Implementation Method 8
The dosing pump is placed at a lower level than the charge tank 9, and its suction is fed by gravity from the charge tank 9.
Data Source
AI summary
A radioactive sodium destruction facility includes a tank for storing liquid metallic sodium, located at a first level; a reaction vessel containing an aqueous solution; a sodium feed circuit comprising a sodium circulation member located at a second level higher than the first level, the circulation member having a suction in fluid communication with the tank and a discharge in fluid communication with the reaction vessel; an inert gas supply unit configured to supply the tank; a controller driving the sodium circulation member; and an inert gas supply unit configured to supply the tank; and a controller driving the supply unit to control a gas pressure in the tank, such that a pressure at the suction of the sodium circulation member is maintained within a predetermined range.