US 6,674,826 B1 · Method of operating a nuclear power plant at multiple power levels

Abstract

A method of operating a nuclear power plant includes determining and licensing a maximum power level at which the power plant can be operated subsequent to the beginning of a fuel cycle, and with the power plant being operated at less than its maximum power rating at certain times such as at the beginning of a fuel cycle. The maximum power level is greater than the power level that would be calculated based upon an assumption that the heat flux peaking factor (FQ) and enthalpy rise peaking factor (FΔH) remain at their maximum level throughout an entire fuel cycle. The maximum power rating takes advantage of factors such as known reductions in FQ and FΔH at certain points in the fuel cycle, the marginal additional capacity of the Balance Of Plant, and the occasional optimization of process parameters such as ultimate heat sink temperature and atmospheric conditions. The power plant may be operated at a substantially continuously variable power level based upon various factors of the power plant, but would not exceed the NRC licensed core thermal power level.

Claims11

Dependent claims

A method of operating a nuclear power plant through a fuel cycle of a core of a reactor of the plant, the core including a plurality of fuel rods in communication with a plurality of channels, and with a coolant flowing through the channels, the method comprising:

operating the plant at an initial power level during a first portion of the fuel cycle, the initial power level being based at least in part upon at least one of a maximum value of a heat flux peaking factor of the core and a maximum value of an enthalpy rise peaking factor of the core;
and
operating the plant at an enhanced power level during a second portion of the fuel cycle, the enhanced power level being higher than the initial power level, the enhanced power level being based at least in part upon at least one of a reduced value of the heat flux peaking factor of the core and a reduced value of the enthalpy rise peaking factor of the core;
the reduced values of the heat flux peaking factor and the enthalpy rise peaking factor resulting from the progressive depletion of the core during the fuel cycle.

1 more element

A method of operating a nuclear power plant through a fuel cycle of a core of a reactor of the plant, the core including a plurality of fuel rods, the method comprising:

determining an initial power level based at least in part upon at least a first design limitation of the plant and at least one of a maximum value of a heat flux peaking factor of the core and a maximum value of an enthalpy rise peaking factor of the core;
determining a maximum power level based at least in part upon at least one of an assumption that at least a first performance condition of the plant is at a maximum level and an assumption that at least a first process parameter is at an optimum condition, the maximum power level being greater than the initial power level;
determining a reduced value of the heat flux peaking factor of the core based upon the maximum value of the heat flux peaking factor, the initial power level, and the maximum power level;
determining a reduced value of the enthalpy rise peaking factor of the core based upon the maximum value of the enthalpy rise peaking factor, the initial power level, and the maximum power level;
determining the one of the heat flux peaking factor and the enthalpy rise peaking factor that will achieve chronologically last the reduced value of the heat flux peaking factor and the reduced value of the enthalpy rise peaking factor, respectively, during the fuel cycle;
operating the plant at the initial power level during a first portion of the fuel cycle;
determining the one of the heat flux peaking factor and the enthalpy rise peaking factor of the core;
and
operating the plant at an enhanced power level between the initial and maximum power levels during a second portion of the fuel cycle upon the one of the heat flux peaking factor and the enthalpy rise peaking factor achieving the reduced value of the heat flux peaking factor and the reduced value of the enthalpy rise peaking factor, respectively;
the reduced values of the heat flux peaking factor and the enthalpy rise peaking factor resulting from the progressive depletion of the core during the fuel cycle.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Method of operating a nuclear power plant at multiple power levels

Life of this patent

Method of operating a nuclear power plant at multiple power levels

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims11