Underground Nuclear Reactor Blast Mitigation Chamber
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing nuclear power reactors lack effective blast mitigation and simplified emergency cooling systems, particularly in underground settings, which are vulnerable to explosions, missile attacks, and earthquakes, and require complex procedures for maintenance and replacement.
Innovation Solution
An underground nuclear power reactor design featuring a blast mitigation chamber with a movable reactor system, including a containment member and an elongated blast tunnel with deflectors and a blast door, allowing for lateral diversion of blast forces and easy removal of reactor components for servicing or replacement, combined with a simplified passive cooling system.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the reactor is placed underground for protection, then protection against war or terrorism is improved, but access for maintenance and replacement becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The containment member is divided into segmented sections that can be independently moved or accessed. The reactor vessel is separated from the containment structure, allowing the reactor to be removed through the blast mitigation chamber without moving the entire containment member.
Solution Approach 2:
A blast mitigation chamber is introduced as an intermediary space between the containment member and the surface. This chamber serves as a passage for removing the reactor vessel while maintaining the integrity of the underground containment structure.
2Reliability
If complex emergency cooling systems are used, then cooling reliability is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The emergency cooling system is designed to activate automatically without external control or intervention. The system uses the reactor's own structures and available resources to provide cooling, eliminating the need for complex external control systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The emergency cooling function is extracted from the main reactor system and implemented as a separate, simplified system. This allows the cooling function to be provided independently without adding complexity to the primary reactor operations.
3Reliability
If blast mitigation structures are added, then protection against explosions is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The blast mitigation chamber serves multiple functions: it provides explosion protection, facilitates reactor vessel removal, and serves as an access passage. By combining multiple functions into a single structure, the overall system complexity is reduced despite the added protection capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The blast mitigation chamber is merged with the maintenance access pathway. The same structure that protects against explosions also serves as the route for removing and replacing reactor vessels, eliminating the need for separate access tunnels.
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 solution provides robust blast mitigation and passive cooling, enabling the reactor to withstand explosions and attacks while facilitating easy maintenance and replacement, ensuring safety and operational efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
simplified passive cooling system
Implementation Method 2
passive cooling system
Implementation Method 3
lateral diversion of blast forces
Data Source
AI summary
An underground nuclear power reactor system has a hollow blast tunnel which extends from one end of a containment member. The system includes a nuclear reactor vessel and other components that may be positioned on a movable support member or on a bottom wall of the containment member. A blast tunnel, which defines a blast chamber, has a plurality of spaced-apart debris deflectors positioned therein. The blast chamber has an upper wall with a roof opening formed therein which is selectively closed by a roof portion. If the reactor needs to be repaired or replaced, the roof portion is opened so that the reactor vessel can through the roof opening. If the reactor vessel explodes, a blast therefrom drives debris therefrom through a blast door and into the blast chamber where the deflectors reduce blast force as the debris passes through the blast chamber.