Vapor Pressure Pumping Device for Power Plant Water Supply
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional power generation systems require large capacity pumps and steam condensers, leading to high facility costs, energy inefficiency, and environmental issues due to heated seawater discharge during nuclear and thermal power generation.
Innovation Solution
A pumping device utilizing vapor pressure from a vapor generator to supply water, featuring a turbine, condensate recovery tank, pressurized water tank, and control valves to automate water supplementation, eliminating the need for additional pumps and condensers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If additional large capacity pumps and steam condensers are installed to supply water to the vapor generator, then water supply reliability is improved, but facility costs and device complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and utilizes the vapor pressure that already exists within the vapor generator system itself to perform the water supply function. By taking out the vapor pressure resource from the system and applying it to drive water from the condensate recovery tank to the vapor generator, the patent eliminates the need for external pumps and condensers, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining water supply reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The vapor pressure in the vapor generator serves multiple functions: it drives the turbine for power generation and simultaneously supplies water to the vapor generator through the water supply pipe. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate dedicated water supply equipment, reducing overall system complexity while ensuring reliable water supply
2Stress or pressure
If additional high pressure water supply pump is installed to supply water to the vapor generator, then water supply pressure is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses its own vapor pressure to supply water to the vapor generator, eliminating the need for external high-pressure pumps. The vapor pressure naturally drives water through the water supply pipe at the required pressure, achieving self-service operation without additional energy consumption for pumping
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces the mechanical pumping system with a thermal-pressure driven system. Instead of using mechanical pumps to pressurize and move water, the system utilizes vapor pressure (thermal energy) to drive water supply, substituting mechanical energy consumption with thermal pressure differential
3Productivity
If high pressure pump operates at increased temperature, then water supply capability is improved, but cavitations phenomenon occurs reducing reliability
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts water from the condensate recovery tank using vapor pressure-driven flow rather than mechanical pumping. By taking out the water supply function from the high-pressure pump system and implementing it through vapor pressure differential, the patent eliminates cavitations phenomenon while maintaining water supply capability
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses vapor pressure (gas pressure) to drive water flow through the water supply pipe. This pneumatic-hydraulic approach uses pressure differential to move water without mechanical contact, eliminating cavitations that occur in mechanical pumps operating at high temperatures
4Temperature
If steam condenser is used to cool and condense vapor, then vapor condensation efficiency is improved, but environmental harm increases due to heated seawater discharge
Solution Approach 1:
The invention converts the harmful heated seawater discharge into a beneficial resource by using it as cooling water in the vapor generator. The heated seawater that would otherwise be discharged to the environment is now utilized for cooling purposes, transforming an environmental harm into a useful function that supports the power generation process
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of discarding the heated seawater from the steam condenser to the environment, the system recovers and reuses it as cooling water in the vapor generator. This recovery process eliminates environmental discharge while maintaining efficient vapor condensation, turning waste heat into a useful resource
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
Enables continuous and reliable water supply to the vapor generator, reducing facility costs, energy consumption, and environmental impact by minimizing warm water discharge, thus enhancing energy efficiency and ecosystem preservation.
Implementation Method 1
a vapor generator (10) for generating vapor by boiling water
Implementation Method 2
a turbine (20) connected to the vapor generator (10) through a vapor pipe (11)
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~8
AI summary
The present invention relates to a pumping device using vapor pressure for supplying water for a power plant, which uses the vapor pressure that is stored in a vapor generator used in the power plant to more quickly and readily supply water to the vapor generator without separately using a high-capacity pump and a condenser. The present invention is characterized by significantly saving equipment cost, because various high-capacity pumps and condensers are not required at all, enhancing energy efficiency and operability by eliminating unnecessary power consumption that is used to operate same, reducing maintenance costs, and actively and efficiently preserving nature and the environment by fundamentally eliminating hot water and sewage, which are byproducts of nuclear or thermal power generation, that are discharged into the ocean without treatment.