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Title: Water inventory management in condenser pool of boiling water reactor

Abstract

An improved system for managing the water inventory in the condenser pool of a boiling water reactor has means for raising the level of the upper surface of the condenser pool water without adding water to the isolation pool. A tank filled with water is installed in a chamber of the condenser pool. The water-filled tank contains one or more holes or openings at its lowermost periphery and is connected via piping and a passive-type valve (e.g., squib valve) to a high-pressure gas-charged pneumatic tank of appropriate volume. The valve is normally closed, but can be opened at an appropriate time following a loss-of-coolant accident. When the valve opens, high-pressure gas inside the pneumatic tank is released to flow passively through the piping to pressurize the interior of the water-filled tank. In so doing, the initial water contents of the tank are expelled through the openings, causing the water level in the condenser pool to rise. This increases the volume of water available to be boiled off by heat conducted from the passive containment cooling heat exchangers. 4 figs.

Inventors:
 [1]
  1. San Jose, CA
Issue Date:
Research Org.:
General Electric Co., Boston, MA (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE
OSTI Identifier:
870340
Patent Number(s):
5499278
Assignee:
General Electric Company (San Jose, CA)
Patent Classifications (CPCs):
G - PHYSICS G21 - NUCLEAR PHYSICS G21C - NUCLEAR REACTORS
Y - NEW / CROSS SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES Y02 - TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE Y02E - REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
DOE Contract Number:  
AC03-90SF18494
Resource Type:
Patent
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
water; inventory; management; condenser; pool; boiling; reactor; improved; managing; water reactor; boiling water; condenser pool; /376/

Citation Formats

Gluntz, Douglas M. Water inventory management in condenser pool of boiling water reactor. United States: N. p., 1996. Web.
Gluntz, Douglas M. Water inventory management in condenser pool of boiling water reactor. United States.
Gluntz, Douglas M. Mon . "Water inventory management in condenser pool of boiling water reactor". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/870340.
@article{osti_870340,
title = {Water inventory management in condenser pool of boiling water reactor},
author = {Gluntz, Douglas M},
abstractNote = {An improved system for managing the water inventory in the condenser pool of a boiling water reactor has means for raising the level of the upper surface of the condenser pool water without adding water to the isolation pool. A tank filled with water is installed in a chamber of the condenser pool. The water-filled tank contains one or more holes or openings at its lowermost periphery and is connected via piping and a passive-type valve (e.g., squib valve) to a high-pressure gas-charged pneumatic tank of appropriate volume. The valve is normally closed, but can be opened at an appropriate time following a loss-of-coolant accident. When the valve opens, high-pressure gas inside the pneumatic tank is released to flow passively through the piping to pressurize the interior of the water-filled tank. In so doing, the initial water contents of the tank are expelled through the openings, causing the water level in the condenser pool to rise. This increases the volume of water available to be boiled off by heat conducted from the passive containment cooling heat exchangers. 4 figs.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Mon Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1996},
month = {Mon Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1996}
}