Light Water Breeder Reactor movable fuel hydraulic balancing system (LWBR Development Program)
Reactivity control in the Light Water Breeder Reactor (LWBR) is obtained by axial positioning of twelve movable fuel assemblies, which thus serve the dual purpose of contributing to reactor power and functioning as neutron economic control elements. A hydraulic technique is used to automatically counterbalance the upward hydraulic force of these elements. Hydraulic balancing is accomplished using the Bypass Inlet Flow (BIF) balancing system, which utilizes the core coolant inlet pressure to develop a downward hydraulic force on the control elements of equal magnitude to the upward hydraulic force caused by axial flow of coolant through the movable control elements. Thus the net force acting on each control element is approximately equal to the weight of the element and acts in a downward direction at all coolant flow rates. This net force adequately accelerates the control element to satisfy automatic insertion requirements. The BIF system also provides for limiting the velocity of downward motion and for decelerating the fuel assembly at the bottom of its stroke. The logic underlying the selection of the BIF system as the appropriate component of the Reactivity Control System to provide control element insertion integrity is discussed, the components comprising the control elements and the BIF piping network used in the Light Water Breeder Reactor are described, and a discussion of the BIF system operation is presented. Descriptions of full-scale hydraulic testing resulting in qualification of the analytical model, and of useful supplementary information acquired from BIF system hydraulic testing are also included as appendices.
- Research Organization:
- Bettis Atomic Power Lab., West Mifflin, PA (USA)
- DOE Contract Number:
- EY-76-C-11-0014
- OSTI ID:
- 5959369
- Report Number(s):
- WAPD-TM-1143; TRN: 79-020785
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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