A Flow-rate Measurement Method by Using the Motor Powers of the Axial Flow Pumps with Higher Specific-speeds
- Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute, 150 Deokjin Yuseong Daejeon 305-353 (Korea, Republic of)
One of the common features of integral reactors is that the main components such as the steam generators and reactor coolant pumps are all installed within a reactor vessel, so there are no flow pipes connecting the main components. Due to there being no flow pipes, it is difficult to measure the differential pressure, and so it is impossible to measure the flow-rate of the reactor coolant by using the differential pressure in integral reactors. As an alternative, a flow-rate measurement method of the reactor coolant by using the motor power of the reactor coolant pump, which is an axial flow type, has been introduced in this study. Generally in integral reactors, an axial flow type of a reactor coolant pump is selected because it is applicable to a low head with a large flow. Up till now, we have not been able to find a precedent where the motor power is applied for a flow-rate measurement during the normal operation of commercial nuclear power plants. The objective of this study is to embody the flow-rate measurement method of the reactor coolant by using the motor power of the axial flow pump in integral reactors. In this study, the motor power inputs of the MCP (main coolant pump), which is an axial flow type, have been measured and calculated. In the given range around the rated capacity of the MCP, the measured result of the motor power inputs shows a steep gradient and also shows a considerable variation throughout the range. It makes easier to use the motor power inputs. So, it has been concluded that it is possible to measure the flow-rate of the reactor coolant by using the motor power inputs of the MCP. As the future works, the capacity-motor power input curve extended over the operating range of the capacity for MCP will be produced, and also the effects of density and the measurement errors of motor power inputs will be analyzed and evaluated. (authors)
- Research Organization:
- American Nuclear Society, 555 North Kensington Avenue, La Grange Park, IL 60526 (United States)
- OSTI ID:
- 21021068
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: 2006 International congress on advances in nuclear power plants - ICAPP'06, Reno - Nevada (United States), 4-8 Jun 2006; Other Information: Country of input: France; 5 refs; Related Information: In: Proceedings of the 2006 international congress on advances in nuclear power plants - ICAPP'06, 2734 pages.
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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