Nuclear reactor with makeup water assist from residual heat removal system
- New Kensington, PA
- Murrysville, PA
A pressurized water nuclear reactor uses its residual heat removal system to make up water in the reactor coolant circuit from an in-containment refueling water supply during staged depressurization leading up to passive emergency cooling by gravity feed from the refueling water storage tank, and flooding of the containment building. When depressurization commences due to inadvertence or a manageable leak, the residual heat removal system is activated manually and prevents flooding of the containment when such action is not necessary. Operation of the passive cooling system is not impaired. A high pressure makeup water storage tank is coupled to the reactor coolant circuit, holding makeup coolant at the operational pressure of the reactor. The staged depressurization system vents the coolant circuit to the containment, thus reducing the supply of makeup coolant. The level of makeup coolant can be sensed to trigger opening of successive depressurization conduits. The residual heat removal pumps move water from the refueling water storage tank into the coolant circuit as the coolant circuit is depressurized, preventing reaching the final depressurization stage unless the makeup coolant level continues to drop. The residual heat removal system can also be coupled in a loop with the refueling water supply tank, for an auxiliary heat removal path.
- Research Organization:
- Westinghouse Electric Corp., Pittsburgh, PA (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC03-90SF18495
- Assignee:
- Westinghouse Electric Corp. (Pittsburgh, PA)
- Patent Number(s):
- US 5268943
- OSTI ID:
- 869059
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
reactor
makeup
water
assist
residual
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pressurized
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in-containment
refueling
supply
staged
depressurization
leading
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manageable
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pressure
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auxiliary
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coolant level
pressurized water
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storage tank
reactor coolant
passive cooling
nuclear reactor
residual heat
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water supply
containment building
auxiliary heat
refueling water
water nuclear
coolant circuit
staged depressurization
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