Self-actuated nuclear reactor shutdown system using induction pump to facilitate sensing of core coolant temperature
- N. Huntingdon, PA
- Churchill, PA
- Greensburg, PA
A self-actuated shutdown system incorporated into a reactivity control assembly in a nuclear reactor includes pumping means for creating an auxiliary downward flow of a portion of the heated coolant exiting from the fuel assemblies disposed adjacent to the control assembly. The shutdown system includes a hollow tubular member which extends through the outlet of the control assembly top nozzle so as to define an outer annular flow channel through the top nozzle outlet separate from an inner flow channel for primary coolant flow through the control assembly. Also, a latching mechanism is disposed in an inner duct of the control assembly and is operable for holding absorber bundles in a raised position in the control assembly and for releasing them to drop them into the core of the reactor for shutdown purposes. The latching mechanism has an inner flow passage extending between and in flow communication with the absorber bundles and the inner flow channel of the top nozzle for accommodating primary coolant flow upwardly through the control assembly. Also, an outer flow passage separate from the inner flow passage extends through the latching mechanism between and in flow communication with the inner duct and the outer flow channel of the top nozzle for accommodating inflow of a portion of the heated coolant from the adjacent fuel assemblies. The latching mechanism contains a magnetic material sensitive to temperature and operable to cause mating or latching together of the components of the latching mechanism when the temperature sensed is below a known temperature and unmating or unlatching thereof when the temperature sensed is above a given temperature. The temperature sensitive magnetic material is positioned in communication with the heated coolant flow through the outer flow passage for directly sensing the temperature thereof. Finally, the pumping means includes a jet induction pump nozzle and diffuser disposed adjacent the bottom nozzle of the control assembly and in flow communication with the inlet thereof. The pump nozzle is operable to create an upward driving flow of primary coolant through the pump diffuser and then to the absorber bundles. The upward driving flow of primary coolant, in turn, creates a suction head within the outer flow channel of the top nozzle and thereby an auxiliary downward flow of the heated coolant portion exiting from the upper end of the adjacent fuel assemblies through the outer flow channel to the pump nozzle via the outer flow passage of the latching mechanism and an annular space between the outer and inner spaced ducts of the control assembly housing. The temperature of the heated coolant exiting from the adjacent fuel assemblies can thereby be sensed directly by the temperature sensitive magnetic material in the latching mechanism.
- Research Organization:
- WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC CORP
- DOE Contract Number:
- AM02-76CH94000
- Assignee:
- United States of America as represented by United States (Washington, DC)
- Patent Number(s):
- US 4698200
- OSTI ID:
- 866385
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Heat exchanger for reactor core and the like
BWR fuel assembly bottom nozzle with one-way coolant flow valve
Related Subjects
absorber
accommodating
adjacent
annular
assemblies
assembly
auxiliary
below
bottom
bundles
channel
communication
components
contains
control
coolant
coolant flow
core
create
creates
creating
define
diffuser
directly
disposed
downward
driving
drop
duct
ducts
exiting
extending
extends
facilitate
finally
flow
fuel
head
heated
holding
hollow
housing
incorporated
induction
inflow
inlet
inner
jet
latching
magnetic
material
mating
means
mechanism
nozzle
nuclear
operable
outer
outlet
passage
portion
position
positioned
primary
pump
pumping
purposes
raised
reactivity
reactivity control
reactor
releasing
self-actuated
sensed
sensing
sensitive
separate
shutdown
space
spaced
suction
temperature
top
tubular
unlatching
unmating
upper
upward
upwardly
via