Automated method for determining location and magnitude of leaks inside a PWR containment
Thermal-hydraulics analysis can be used to determine location and magnitude of leaks inside a pressurized water reactor (PWR) containment, as required by plant technical specifications. The major advantage of this detection method is that it minimizes radiation exposure of maintenance personnel because most of the leak detection process is performed from the control room outside the containment. In addition, such a program allows for the elimination of pipe whip restraints and jet impingement shields, eliminating costs for maintenance of these supports and shields in older plants and lowering construction costs for new plants. Previously, only simple single-node containment models were used for determining leakage magnitude. This paper presents a more sophisticated multinode approach for determining the magnitude and location. The resulting sensitivities to leak can be programmed into the plant's computer system. In this way, the plant's computer will be able to measure and locate leaks inside containment. The study concludes that dew point temperature (or relative humidity) is the most suitable parameter for locating a leak while flow rate to sump is the most suitable parameter for quantifying the leak.
- Research Organization:
- Stone and Webster Engineering Corp., Boston, MA
- OSTI ID:
- 6657933
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-860610-; TRN: 87-016368
- Journal Information:
- Trans. Am. Nucl. Soc.; (United States), Vol. 52; Conference: American Nuclear Society annual meeting, Reno, NV, USA, 15 Jun 1986
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS
CONTAINMENT SYSTEMS
HUMIDITY
LEAKS
MONITORING
PWR TYPE REACTORS
REACTOR SAFETY
COMPUTERS
CONTROL ROOMS
DEW POINT
FLOW RATE
HEAT TRANSFER
HYDRAULICS
RADIATION PROTECTION
SPECIFICATIONS
T CODES
COMPUTER CODES
CONTAINMENT
ENERGY TRANSFER
ENGINEERED SAFETY SYSTEMS
FLUID MECHANICS
MECHANICS
REACTORS
SAFETY
WATER COOLED REACTORS
WATER MODERATED REACTORS
220900* - Nuclear Reactor Technology- Reactor Safety
210200 - Power Reactors
Nonbreeding
Light-Water Moderated
Nonboiling Water Cooled