US 6,977,983 B2Granted

Nuclear power plant and a method of conditioning its power generation circuit

AssigneePebble Bed Modular Reactor (Pty) Limited

InventorsMichael Correia, Willem Adriaan Odendaal Kriel

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Abstract

In a nuclear power plant making use of a high temperature gas cooled reactor, it is necessary, prior to commencing power generation and connection of a generator to an electrical distribution grid, to condition the power generation circuit of the plant. This involves creating stable conditions within the power generation circuit. To this end, the plant includes a start-up blower system for circulating working fluid, typically helium, around the power generation circuit until the desired conditions are satisfied. The start-up blower system typically includes a normally open in-line valve, at least one blower connected in parallel with the in-line valve and a normally closed isolation valve connected in series with the blower. Conditioning the power generation circuit will typically include stabilizing the pressure in the circuit at between 10 bar and 50 bar.

Claims9

Dependent claims

A nuclear power plant which includes

a closed loop power generation circuit making use of gas as a working fluid, the power generation circuit including a nuclear reactor having a working fluid inlet and a working fluid outlet, a high pressure turbine drivingly connected to a high pressure compressor, a low pressure turbine drivingly connected to a low pressure compressor and a power turbine drivingly connected to a generator, a recuperator which has a high pressure side and a low pressure side, each side of the recuperator having an inlet and an outlet, a pre-cooler connected between an outlet of the low pressure side of the recuperator and an inlet of the low pressure compressor, and an intercooler connected between the outlet of the low pressure compressor and an inlet of the high pressure compressor;
and
a start-up blower system for conditioning the power generation circuit, the start-up blower system being positioned between the outlet of the low pressure side of the recuperator and an inlet of the pre-cooler.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 10/473,452Filed 27 Mar 2002
Priority: ZA 2001/264630 Mar 2001
Published: US 2004/0196951 A17 Oct 2004
Granted: 20 Dec 2005
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification14 codes

G21C 1/07
Heterogeneous reactors, i.e. in which fuel and moderator are separated: pebble-bed reactors; Reactors with granular fuel
F02C 1/05
The working fluid being heated indirectly: characterised by the type or source of heat, e.g. using nuclear or solar energy
F02C 9/18
Control of working fluid flow: by bleeding, bypassing or acting on variable working fluid interconnections between turbines or compressors or…
F02C 9/24
Control of working fluid flow: control of the pressure level in closed cycles