Swirl Vane Air Cooling for Nuclear Containment Heat Removal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current passive containment cooling systems for nuclear reactors rely heavily on water evaporation for heat removal after the initial 72 hours following a loss of coolant accident, requiring active components and operator intervention, and have limitations in air cooling capacity to maintain containment pressure within design limits.
Innovation Solution
The integration of swirl generators, guide vanes, and a vortex engine enhances natural air circulation and mixing over the containment vessel, creating a more efficient heat transfer mechanism without active components or external power, using a swirl vane assembly to promote turbulence and a vortex engine to generate a virtual chimney for increased air flow and buoyancy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If water evaporation is used for heat removal after 72 hours, then heat removal capacity is sufficient, but active components and operator intervention are required
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses natural circulation and buoyancy-driven flow to achieve self-powered operation. The counter-rotating swirl generators create turbulence and enhance heat transfer without requiring external power sources or active control systems, allowing the containment to cool itself passively for extended periods
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces active mechanical cooling systems with passive thermal convection and buoyancy-driven air flow. The swirl generators utilize natural pressure differentials and thermal gradients to drive counter-rotating flows that enhance heat removal without mechanical actuators or external power
2Power
If water evaporation is used for heat removal, then heat removal capacity is sufficient, but water storage tank size must be large
Solution Approach 1:
The system substitutes water-based evaporative cooling with air-based convective cooling enhanced by counter-rotating swirl flows. This eliminates the need for large water storage tanks while maintaining sufficient heat removal capacity through extended natural circulation
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the cooling medium from water to air, and changes the heat transfer mechanism from evaporation to convection. This parameter change allows for compact system volume while maintaining heat removal effectiveness through enhanced turbulent mixing
3Extent of automation
If natural air circulation is used, then no active components are needed, but heat removal capacity is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The system introduces dynamic counter-rotating flows into the passive natural circulation system. The opposing swirl directions create intense turbulence and mixing that dynamically enhances heat transfer coefficients, transforming static natural convection into active turbulent convection without external power
Solution Approach 2:
The counter-rotating swirl generators create periodic oscillating flows that enhance heat transfer through repeated disruption of thermal boundary layers. The alternating rotational directions produce cyclic mixing patterns that continuously renew the heat transfer interface
4Object-affected harmful factors
If containment pressure is reduced, then radioactive material release is limited, but heat transfer driving force is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes the heat transfer mechanism from pressure-driven forced convection to buoyancy-driven natural convection. By utilizing density differences created by temperature gradients, the system maintains effective heat removal without relying on high pressure differentials that would drive radioactive leakage
Solution Approach 2:
The invention exploits thermal expansion and density changes in the cooling air to generate buoyancy forces. Heated air becomes less dense and rises, creating natural circulation currents that drive heat removal without requiring high pressure differentials across the containment boundary
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 solution enables sufficient decay heat removal through air cooling alone, maintaining acceptable containment pressure without active components or water supplies beyond the initial 72 hours, reducing the size of the passive containment cooling water storage tank and eliminating reliance on operator actions or external water sources.
Implementation Method 1
heat is removed from the containment vessel by continuous natural circulation of air
Implementation Method 2
passive containment air cooling system that relies on natural circulation of air over the surface of a metal containment
Implementation Method 3
air cooling is supplemented by evaporation of water, provided by a passive containment cooling system water storage tank
Data Source
AI summary
A passive containment air cooling system for a nuclear power plant that enhances air flow over a metal containment that houses the reactor system to improve heat transfer out of the containment. The heat transfer is improved by employing swirl vanes to mix the air as it rises over the walls of the containment due to natural circulation and a vortex engine proximate an exit along the cooling air path to increase the quantity of air drawn along the containment.