US 2019/0172596 A1 · SAFETY SYSTEM

Abstract

A coolant injection system for a nuclear power generation system includes the coolant injection system, and method of operation of the coolant injection system. The nuclear power generation system includes a reactor pressure vessel having a reactor core, a pressuriser in fluid communication with the reactor pressure vessel, and the injection system, which comprises a make-up tank having a tank inlet and a tank outlet. The injection system has an operating condition, and a fault response condition, and is configured to switch between these conditions when coolant level in the pressuriser drops below a threshold level. In the operating condition, the tank outlet is isolated from the reactor pressure vessel such that coolant is retained in the make-up tank, and the tank inlet is in fluid communication with the reactor pressure vessel and the pressuriser.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A coolant injection system for a nuclear power generation system including a reactor pressure vessel having a reactor core, and a pressuriser in fluid communication with the reactor pressure vessel, the injection system comprising a make-up tank having a tank inlet and a tank outlet, wherein the injection system is configured to switch between an operating condition and a fault response condition when the coolant level in the pressuriser drops below a threshold level, and wherein:

in the operating condition, the tank outlet is isolated from the reactor pressure vessel such that coolant is retained in the make-up tank, and the tank inlet is in fluid communication with the reactor pressure vessel and the pressuriser;
and
in the fault response condition, the tank inlet is isolated from the reactor pressure vessel, and the tank outlet is in fluid communication with the reactor pressure vessel such that coolant from the make-up tank can flow into the reactor pressure vessel to provide cooling of the reactor core.

A method of operation of a coolant injection system for a nuclear power generation system including a reactor pressure vessel having a reactor core, a pressuriser in fluid communication with the reactor pressure vessel, and a coolant injection system comprising a make-up tank having a tank inlet and a tank outlet, the method including the steps of:

detecting a coolant level in the pressuriser;
in an operating condition in which the coolant level in the pressuriser is above a threshold level, isolating the tank outlet from the reactor pressure vessel such that coolant is retained in the make-up tank, and the tank inlet is in fluid communication with the reactor pressure vessel and the pressuriser;
when the coolant level in the pressuriser drops below the threshold level, switching the injection system from the operating condition to a fault response condition, in which the tank inlet is isolated from the reactor pressure vessel, and the tank outlet is in fluid communication with the reactor pressure vessel;
and
allowing coolant from the make-up tank to flow into the reactor pressure vessel to provide cooling of the reactor core.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Safety system

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Safety system

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20