Sludge collection system for a nuclear steam generator
AssigneeWestinghouse Electric Corp.
InventorArnold H. Redding
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Removal of concentrated suspended particulate material from the recirculating carry-over water in a nuclear steam generator is provided by establishing a mud drum or reservoir of relatively quiescent water, permitting the concentrated solids contained therein to settle out prior to returning the water for mixing with the feedwater. Baffles in the mud drum intercept the entering carry-over water in a manner such that only a small portion of it is exchanged by the newly entering water so that, for the most part, there is sufficient residence time in a relatively quiescent environment to settle out the solids.
Claims5
A sludge removal system for a vertically oriented nuclear steam generator wherein the vapors produced in the steam generator pass through means for separating entrained liquid from the vapor prior to the vapor being discharged from the generator, means including an upwardly open chamber for collecting the separated liquid prior to the liquid being returned to be mixed with the feedwater entering the generator, said chamber further including a generally horizontal baffle member separating the chamber into an upper and lower portion and having apertures therein for fluid flow therebetween for maintaining at least the liquid in the lower portion in a generally quiescent state to permit the solids within the liquid to settle therefrom, said liquid being discharged from said chamber by overflowing said upper portion and flowing therefrom into said feedwater and means for discharging the sludge collected in the lower portion from said steam generator.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.