Skip to main content
U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Feedwater temperature control methods and systems

Patent ·
OSTI ID:1531396

A system for controlling the power level of a natural circulation boiling water nuclear reactor (NCBWR) may include a heating subsystem for heating feedwater flowing into an annulus of the NCBWR to increase the temperature of recirculation water flowing through the core above a predetermined recirculation water operating temperature. Additionally the system may include a temperature sensor operable to sense the temperature of the feedwater flowing into the annulus. The temperature sensor is communicatively connected to a temperature controller operable to command the heating subsystem to increase the temperature of the feedwater flowing into the annulus to a requested temperature above a predetermined operating temperature of the feedwater flowing into the annulus. By increasing the temperature of the feedwater flowing into the annulus, the temperature of the recirculation water is increased above the predetermined recirculation water operating temperature causing a reduction in the power level generated by the NCBWR core.

Research Organization:
GE-Hitachi Nuclear Energy Americas LLC, Wilmington, NC (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE
DOE Contract Number:
FC07-07ID14778
Assignee:
GE-Hitachi Nuclear Energy Americas LLC (Wilmington, NC)
Patent Number(s):
10,163,532
Application Number:
14/257,608
OSTI ID:
1531396
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English