DEVICE FOR SEPARATING A FLUID MASS FLOW

A device separates a fluid mass flow in a nuclear plant. The device contains a primary end piece for conducting the fluid mass flow and a plurality of secondary end pieces for conducting a plurality of separate partial flows of the fluid mass flow. A number of separating elements is provided in the area within the primary end piece, and each of the partial areas defined by the separating element or the separating elements opens in a secondary end piece clearly assigned to the partial area.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Identical parts inFIG. 1toFIG. 4are given the same reference symbols. These reference symbols are also used inFIG. 5, in which, however, additional reference symbols are also used in view of an alternative linguistic characterization of the invention. Referring now to the figures of the drawings in detail and first, particularly toFIG. 1thereof, there is shown a device1, also designated as a distributor, for separating a fluid mass flow Mo. The device1contains a conically tapered inner guide pipe2, which is concentrically surrounded at the narrower end by a tubular primary end piece3. The primary end piece3is connected to two identically shaped secondary end pieces4arranged opposite one another with respect to the inner guide pipe2, so that the primary end piece3together with the two secondary end pieces4form a pipe branch5. In the wider end region of the inner guide pipe2, which region is arranged opposite the primary end piece3with respect to an axis of symmetry X, the inner guide pipe forms a further secondary end piece6. In this case, the inner guide pipe2is led out of the pipe branch5through an orifice7having an exact fit and closing off sealingly at the periphery.

The axis of symmetry X of the device1corresponds to the longitudinal axis of the inner guide pipe2and to the longitudinal axis of the primary end piece3. On account of the arrangement of the two identically shaped secondary end pieces4, in the exemplary embodiment the device1is symmetrical with respect to rotation through 180° about the axis of symmetry X. The two identically shaped secondary end pieces4may alternatively have central axes inclined slightly in relation to one another, but do not therefore necessarily have to point in exactly opposite directions, as seen in the circumferential direction of the primary end piece3.

Between the inner guide pipe2and the primary end piece3, two separating fins8are formed, lying opposite one another with respect to the axis of symmetry X, each separating fin8forming an essentially right angle with each of the identically shaped secondary end pieces4with respect to a cross-sectional plane orthogonal to the axis of symmetry X. The surface area of the inner guide pipe2in the region of the primary end piece3and the two separating fins8define three subregions V1, V2, V3within the primary end piece3, the first subregion V1being of a generally semiannular form, as seen in cross section, and surrounding the inner guide pipe2concentrically on one half side, the second subregion V2constituting the cylindrical inner volume of the inner guide pipe, and the third subregion V3corresponding to the shape of the first subregion V1and being arranged opposite the first subregion V1. Each subregion V1, V2, V3issues respectively into one of the secondary end pieces4,6,4.

The inner guide pipe2has a continuously increasing diameter from one end face in the region of the primary end piece3toward the other end side of the secondary end piece6and consequently assumes a slightly conical shape. The pipe branch5has, in the region of the transition from the primary end piece3to the secondary end pieces4, an essentially uniformly curved profile and therefore, in particular, possesses no flow-breaking edges.

FIG. 2shows the device1according toFIG. 1in a lateral projection. In this illustration, the fluid mass flow Mo flowing into the device1in the region of the primary end piece3is identified symbolically by arrows. The fluid mass flow Mo is separated geometrically by the inner guide pipe2and by the separating fins8and distributed to the three subregions V1, V2, V3within the primary end piece3(in the view chosen here, the separating fins8stand perpendicularly on the viewing plane, only one separating fin8being illustrated visibly as a vertical line).

The mass substreams M1, M2, M3formed in the subregions V1, V2, V3are diverted in separate directions in each case to a secondary end piece: the mass substream M2is discharged through the inner guide pipe2in parallel with the axis of symmetry X and is thus delivered to the secondary end piece6; the other two mass substreams M1, M3are diverted within the pipe branch5around the inner guide pipe2and via the secondary end pieces4. As a result of the geometric separation of the fluid mass flow Mo in the region of the primary end piece3, the flow field of the mass substreams, M1, M2, M3remains intact essentially without breakaway zones.

All further details may be gathered from the description ofFIG. 1.

According to the various conceivable intended uses, the geometric parameters of the device1may vary greatly. In the variant illustrated inFIG. 3, intended for use in the cooling liquid circuit of a boiling water reactor, a diameter D1of the narrow end of the inner guide pipe2amounts, for example, to about 190 mm and a diameter D2of the outer wide end of the guide pipe2amounts to about 290 mm. The diameter D3of the primary end piece3amounts to about 530 mm, and the diameter D4of the two secondary end pieces4in the region of their outlet orifices amounts in each case to about 350 mm. A radius of curvature R of the two pipe bends extending between the primary end piece3and the respective secondary end piece4amounts to about 600 mm.

It can be gathered fromFIG. 4that, theoretically and/or actually, the device1can be set up as follows: two preferably identical pipe bends9are in each case cut into, parallel to a mid-axis M, through one of their end orifices along the cutting edge S. Furthermore, a suitable clearance A for the guide pipe2is introduced into the remaining part of the respective pipe bend9. The remaining parts of the pipe bends9are subsequently brought together in the way shown by directional arrows and are connected to one another/joined together at the cutting edges S. Moreover, the guide pipe2is introduced into the clearance A and is fixed there in the final position. Finally, the separating fins, not illustrated here, which are contoured with an exact fit, are also inserted into the composite structure and fixed. The connecting points between the pipe bends9, guide pipe2and separating fins are sealed off, free of gaps, in relation to one another.

Modifications of the basic shape illustrated can, of course, also be implemented. Thus, for example, a corresponding 4-way distributor could be formed, with a straight inner guide pipe and with three outwardly bent pipe bends which emanate from one common primary end piece (inlet orifice) and which will in each case have to be arranged at an angular spacing of 120° with respect to one another, preferably in the manner of an equal division of the 360° full angle. Three separating fins would have to be provided in this case. Moreover, the inner guide pipe does not necessarily have to be configured conically. It could, instead, have a constant inner cross section. Alternatively, in the case of a conical configuration, the wide end could be arranged within the primary end piece and the narrow end could project outward from the pipe branch.

The drawing inFIG. 5is identical to the drawing inFIG. 1. The inner guide pipe2fromFIG. 1has been designated alternatively inFIG. 5as a separation pipe10. In addition, an annular gap13between an inner portion12of the separation pipe10and the primary end piece3branching off to the two pipe bends9in a branch11has been indicated there. That portion of the separation pipe10which emerges from the branch11at the top has been labeled as an outer portion14. At its lower end, projecting into the primary end piece3, the separation pipe10possesses an inlet orifice15. The pipe section forming the primary end piece3will generally, contrary to the drawing, extend even further downward and project in the axial direction beyond the periphery of the inlet orifice15of the separation pipe10. The secondary end pieces4and6may, of course, likewise be drawn even further outward. The separating fins8may, contrary to the drawing, project downward beyond the periphery of the inlet orifice15or, alternatively, have a lower edge arranged further above, so that, in the latter case, the separation pipe10projects downward beyond the separating fins8. In general, pipelines, not illustrated here, which lead further on may be connected to or integrally formed on the end pieces3,4and6.