Enhancing load-following and/or spectral shift capability in single-sparger natural circulation boiling water reactors
This patent describes a method for obtaining load-following capability in a coiling water reactor (BWR) wherein housed within a reactor pressure vessel (RPV) is a nuclear core disposed within a shroud having a shroud head and which with the RPV defines an annulus region disposed beneath the nuclear core, an upper steam dome connected to a steam outlet in the RPV, a core upper plenum formed within the shroud head and disposed atop the nuclear core, a chimney mounted atop the shroud head and in fluid communication with the core upper plenum and with a steam separator having a skirt which is in fluid communication with the steam dome, the region outside of the chimney defining a downcomer region, there being a water level established therein under normal operation of the BWR, and the RPV containing a feedwater inlet. It comprises: disposing a single sparger connected to the feedwater inlet above the steam separator skirt bottom about the interior circumference of the RPV at an elevation at approximately the water level established during normal operation of the BWR; and adjusting the feedwater flow through the inlet and into the sparger to vary the water level to be above, at or below the elevational location of the sparger in response to load-following need.
- Assignee:
- General Electric Co., San Jose, CA (United States)
- Patent Number(s):
- US 5100609; A
- Application Number:
- PPN: US 7-615098
- OSTI ID:
- 5178131
- Resource Relation:
- Patent File Date: 19 Nov 1990
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
BWR TYPE REACTORS
FEEDWATER
ANNULAR SPACE
FLUID FLOW
NATURAL CONVECTION
PRESSURE VESSELS
REACTOR CORES
SHROUDS
SPARGERS
VARIATIONS
CONFIGURATION
CONTAINERS
CONVECTION
COOLING SYSTEMS
ENERGY TRANSFER
ENRICHED URANIUM REACTORS
HEAT TRANSFER
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
MASS TRANSFER
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
POWER REACTORS
REACTOR COMPONENTS
REACTOR COOLING SYSTEMS
REACTORS
SPACE
THERMAL REACTORS
WATER
WATER COOLED REACTORS
WATER MODERATED REACTORS
210100* - Power Reactors
Nonbreeding
Light-Water Moderated
Boiling Water Cooled