Integrated emergency core cooling system condenser for pressurized water reactor

摘要

A pressurized water nuclear reactor (PWR) includes a pressure vessel having a lower portion containing a nuclear reactor core comprising a fissile material and an upper portion defining an internal pressurizer volume. A condenser is secured to, and optionally supported by, the upper portion of the pressure vessel. A condenser inlet is in fluid communication with the internal pressurizer volume. A heat sink is in fluid communication with the condenser such that the condenser operates as a passive heat exchanger to condense steam from the internal pressurizer volume into condensate while rejecting heat to the heat sink. A condenser outlet connects with the pressure vessel to return condensate to the pressure vessel. A single metal forging having a first end welded to the pressure vessel and a second end welded to the condenser inlet may provide the fluid communication between the condenser inlet and the internal pressurizer volume.

主权项

1. An apparatus comprising:
a pressurized water reactor (PWR) disposed within a containment structure, the PWR including a pressure vessel having a lower portion containing a nuclear reactor core comprising a fissile material and an upper portion defining an internal pressurizer volume; a baffle plate disposed in the pressure vessel between the lower portion and the upper portion so that the baffle plate separates the internal pressurizer volume from the lower portion; at least one steam pressure control device provided in the internal pressurizer volume; a condenser including a condenser inlet and a condenser outlet, the condenser being supported only by the upper portion of the pressure vessel; and a steam line connecting the internal pressurizer volume with the condenser inlet of the condenser, wherein the condenser outlet is in fluid communication with a sealed volume contained by the pressure vessel at a point below the steam line, and wherein the condenser is a passive heat exchanger that condenses steam flowing into the condenser from the internal pressurizer volume while rejecting heat to a heat sink comprising a body of water that is disposed external to the containment structure, the condensed steam flowing into the sealed volume contained by the pressure vessel via the condenser outlet.