Low pressure reactor safety systems and methods

摘要

A supplementary injection device is installed in a nuclear power plant to draw coolant and inject coolant using an entraining fluid. The injection device can be a venturi or other passive device operable at relatively low fluid pressure that draws coolant through suction at the venturi narrowing point and mixes the coolant with the fluid for injection. The injection device is operable with a known BWR design, where the device is attached to a steam connection to the main steam line of the reactor, a coolant connection drawing from suction lines to a suppression cool or condensate tank, and an outlet connection injecting into the main feedwater lines. In a BWR, the injection device is operable without electricity and at a wide range of pressures, even less than 50 pounds per square inch, to maintain coolant levels in the reactor.

主权项

1. A coolant injection system for supplementing an RCIC system in a nuclear reactor, the system comprising:
the nuclear reactor; a coolant source including a suppression pool; an injection device configured to suck a liquid coolant against gravity; the RCIC system including an RCIC turbine, an RCIC pump powered by the RCIC turbine, and an RCIC line connecting steam to the RCIC turbine from the nuclear reactor; a steam connection connecting steam from the RCIC line to the injection device before the RCIC turbine; a coolant connection connecting the liquid coolant from the suppression pool to the injection device; and an outlet connection connecting the steam and the liquid coolant to the nuclear reactor, wherein the injection device is configured to entrain the liquid coolant in the steam and inject the entrained liquid coolant and steam into the nuclear reactor, and wherein there are no pumps or turbines along the outlet connection between the injection device and the nuclear reactor.