Pressurized-water-cooled nuclear reactor with compact steam generators
AssigneeDel Nova Vis S.R.L.
InventorLuciano Cinotti
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A nuclear reactor cooled with pressurized water, having a pressurized tank installed in which are compact steam generators; each steam generator comprises a plurality of heat-exchange tubes having respective spiral portions set in levels on top of one another to form at least one annular tube bundle delimiting a substantially cylindrical internal central zone, pre-arranged for supply from above with primary water, which then traverses the tube bundle radially.
Claims21
A pressurized-water-cooled nuclear reactor, comprising a pressurized tank, which houses a core, a hot header over the core, and a cold header surrounding the hot header and separated from the hot header by a separation structure and in which primary water constituting a core cooling fluid circulates;
- the reactor comprising at least one steam generator, extending along a vertical axis and positioned in the cold header and in which secondary water circulates for removing heat from the primary water;
- the steam generator comprising a plurality of heat-exchange tubes in which the secondary water circulates and which have respective substantially plane spiral portions set on top of one another in a number of levels to form a substantially annular tube bundle delimiting a substantially cylindrical central zone, which houses a supply duct in which the pressurized primary water coming from the hot header flows downwards;
- wherein each spiral portion is constituted by a plurality of substantially concentric turns set inside one another about the axis and which lie substantially in a common plane perpendicular to the axis;
- and wherein each tube comprises a delivery branch that connects a radially external end of the spiral portion to a water-delivery manifold, and a return branch that connects a radially internal end of the portion to a steam-return manifold;
- and wherein the delivery branches extend in a prevalently vertical direction substantially parallel to the axis, and are set circumferentially alongside one another and are radially external to the annular tube bundles;
- and the return branches extend in a prevalently vertical direction substantially parallel to the axis, and are set circumferentially alongside one another and radially inside the annular tube bundles;
- and wherein set within the tube bundle is a substantially cylindrical ferrule provided with first calibrated holes and delimiting inside the supply duct.
A pressurized-water-cooled nuclear reactor, comprising a pressurized tank, which houses a core, a hot header over the core, and a cold header surrounding the hot header and separated from the hot header by a separation structure and in which primary water constituting a core cooling fluid circulates;
- the reactor comprising at least one compact steam generator, extending along a vertical axis and positioned in the cold header and in which secondary water circulates for removing heat from the primary water;
- the steam generator comprising a plurality of heat-exchange tubes in which the secondary water circulates and which have respective substantially plane spiral portions set on top of one another in a number of levels to form a substantially annular tube bundle delimiting a substantially cylindrical central zone, which houses a supply duct in which the pressurized primary water coming from the hot header flows downwards;
- wherein the spiral portions are rigidly supported in a plurality of circumferential positions by respective supports radially and angularly spaced apart from one another;
- wherein each spiral portion is constituted by a plurality of substantially concentric turns set inside one another about the axis and which lie substantially in a common plane perpendicular to the axis;
- and wherein set within the tube bundle is a substantially cylindrical ferrule provided with first calibrated holes and delimiting inside the supply duct.
A pressurized-water-cooled nuclear reactor, comprising a pressurized tank, which houses a core, a hot header over the core, and a cold header surrounding the hot header and separated from the hot header by a separation structure and in which primary water constituting a core cooling fluid circulates;
- the reactor comprising at least one compact steam generator, extending along a vertical axis and positioned in the cold header and in which secondary water circulates for removing heat from the primary water;
- the steam generator comprising a plurality of heat-exchange tubes in which the secondary water circulates and which have respective substantially plane spiral portions set on top of one another in a number of levels to form a substantially annular tube bundle delimiting a substantially cylindrical central zone, which houses a supply duct in which the pressurized primary water coming from the hot header flows downwards;
- wherein the steam generator comprises an adjustable system for pre-compression of the tube bundle;
- wherein each spiral portion is constituted by a plurality of substantially concentric turns set inside one another about the axis and which lie substantially in a common plane perpendicular to the axis;
- and wherein set within the tube bundle is a substantially cylindrical ferrule provided with first calibrated holes and delimiting inside the supply duct.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.