Patent Number: 053032756
Section: description

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In accordance with the present invention, a FCBWR system 100 comprises a reactor pressure vessel 102 and its internals, as shown in FIG. 1. Heat is generated within a core 104 of FCBWR 100, which includes fuel bundles 106 of fissionable material. Water circulated up through core 104 is at least partially converted to steam. A steam separator assembly 108 separates steam from water, which is recirculated through a fluid return path. Steam separator assembly 108 serves as a chimney in supporting a driving head to promote natural circulation of water within vessel 102. Residual water is removed from the steam by steam dryers 110. The steam then exits reactor through a steam exit 112 near a vessel head 114. The amount of heat generated in core 104 is regulated by inserting and withdrawing control blades 116, and by varying core flow. To the extent that a control blade 116 is inserted into core 104, it absorbs neutrons that would otherwise be available to promote the chain reaction that generates heat in core 104. Control rod guide tubes 118 below core 104 maintain the vertical motion of control blades 116 during insertion and withdrawal. Hydraulic control rod drives 120 effect the insertion and withdrawal of control blades 116. Control rod drive housings 122 extend through a bottom head 124 of vessel 102, where they are welded to stub tubes 126, which are in turn welded to vessel bottom head 124. Fuel bundles 106 are supported from below by a fuel support casting 128 mounted on a core support plate 130 located at the base of core 104. A top guide 132 helps align fuel bundles 106 as they are lowered into core 104. Vessel 102 is mounted on a concrete pedestal 134. The recirculation path within vessel 102 is upward through core 104, upward through stand pipes 136 of separator assembly 108, upward, outward and then downward through steam separators 137 of separator assembly 108, radially outward toward a downcomer 138, downward through downcomer 138, radially inward through a core inlet plenum 140, and back up to core 104. A shroud 142 encircles core 104 so as to define an inner radial wall of downcomer 138, isolating the fluid flowing downward through downcomer 138 from the steam/water mixture rising through core 104. Shroud 142 extends below core 104 to form a boundary between downcomer 138 and core inlet plenum 140. Shroud 142 extends down to a pump deck 144, on which ten electric pumps 146 (one shown, 6-10 are typical) are mounted. During forced circulation, the primary flow path from downcomer 138 to core inlet plenum 140 is through the inlet suction annulus of pumps 146. Shroud 142 is supported by shroud supports 148. In accordance with the present invention, the flow cross section between downcomer 138 and core inlet plenum 140 is augmented by natural circulation through fluidic diodes 202 (one shown in FIG. 2) when forced circulation is stopped. For each fluidic diode 202, the flow resistance in the upstream direction (counter to normal circulation flow) is at least twice the flow resistance in the downstream direction (in the normal direction of coolant flow). Each fluidic diode 202 includes radially nested cylinders 204 (shown as cylinders 204a, 204b, and 204c) that are flared inwards to define diverters 206 (including diverters 206a, 206b, and 206c), as shown in FIGS. 2, 3, and 4. Each diverter 206 is described by an elliptical radius of curvature that increases from the circumference of the cylinder toward the center of the cylinder, as shown in FIG. 2. Rib supports 208 space and support cylinders 204, as seen in FIG. 2. Ten fluidic diodes 202 are located between respective pairs of adjacent pumps 146 (as indicated in FIG. 3), and are attached by welds 210 to pump deck 144. When pumps 146 are not operating, coolant flows downstream through pumps 146, as indicated by arrow 402 in FIG. 4. This natural circulation flow is driven by the differential pressure between downcomer 138 and the chimney action of steam separator assembly 108. However, since the flow cross section of pumps 146 is limited, they provide for only limited natural circulation. The total natural circulation flow cross section through pump deck 144 is augmented by fluidic diodes 202, each of which includes a respective central aperture 212, as shown in FIGS. 2, 3, and 4. For each fluidic diode 202, diverters 206 funnel natural circulation to the respective aperture 212, as indicated by flow arrow 404. Diverters 206 are configured to minimize the turbulence imposed on the natural circulation flow so as to impose minimal resistance to this flow. When operating, pumps force water through pump deck 144, as indicated by flow arrow 406. The forced flow creates a positive pressure differential across pump deck 144. In other words, the fluid pressure downstream of deck 144 is greater than the fluid pressure upstream of deck 144. This positive pressure differential induces a backflow 408 toward fluidic diode apertures 212, as indicated in FIG. 4. This backflow 408, if unrestricted, would undesirably diminish the net efficiency of the forced circulation. However, much of this backflow is trapped between cylinders 204, as indicated by flow arrows 410, and then diverted radially inward and in a downstream direction by diverters 206, as indicated by flow arrows 412. The diverted backflow generates eddy currents 414 and crossflow 416 across aperture 212. Eddy currents 414 and crossflow 416 mix and interfere with backflow 408, causing turbulence that impedes backflow 408. The net backflow 418 through fluidic diode 202 is thus substantially diminished relative to what it would be through aperture 212 without the asymmetric action of fluidic diode 202. The distance between vessel wall 102 and shroud 142 is 26". Diverters 206 extend so that central pathway 212 has a constant diameter of 6" so that the 10 fluidic diodes 202 pass the desired amount of augmented natural circulation flow. Thus, when fluidic diode 202 is viewed from above pump deck 144, as shown in FIG. 5, only topmost diverter 206a of outer cylinder 204a is visible. Viewed from below, the concentric structure of cylinders 204 is apparent, as seen in FIG. 6. Rib supports 208 are also shown in FIG. 6. A method 700 of the present invention includes a conditional branch step 701, depending on whether or not pumps 146 are operating. When they are not operating, fluid is permitted to flow downstream through fluidic diodes 202 with minimal resistance to augment natural circulation, at step 711. When pumps 146 are operating, backflow through fluidic diode 202 is diverted radially and downstream at step 721 to produce crossflow 416. Eddy currents 414 and crossflow 416 mix with backflow 408 at step 722, inducing turbulence and concomitant resistance to the backflow. Those skilled in the art can recognize that other embodiments are provided for. Different fluidic diode diameters can be used depending on flow requirements and the number of fluidic diodes actually employed. The diameter of central pathway 212 need not be constant. An alternative fluidic diode has diverters arranged to narrow the backflow pathway progressively. Fluidic diodes of other design can be used. In particular, cascade diodes, Tesla diodes, scroll diodes, momentum flueric diodes, vortex diodes, and vortex amplifiers, are provided for. See, e.g., B. E. A. Jacobs and P. J. Baker, "The Cascade Diode," Proceedings of the Third Cranfield Fluidics Conference, Paper No. K5, British Hydromechanics Research Association, Cranfield, Bedford, United Kingdom, 1968, pp. 63-82; E. Sher, "Theoretical and Experimental Study of the Scroll Diode Characteristics under Steady Conditions," The Journal of Fluid Control, Vol. 12, No. 4, Debridge Publishing Co., Cupertino, Calif., December, 1980, pp. 57-70; N. Syred and J. R. Tippetts, "A High Gain Active Diode--The Reverse Flow Vortex Amplifier," Proceedings of the Sixth Cranfield Fluidics Conference, Paper No. J4, British Hydromechanics Research Association, Cranfield, Bedford, United Kingdom, 1974, pp. 55-67; and Frank W. Paul, "Fluid Mechanics of the Momentum Flueric Diode," Proceedings of the November, 1968, IFAC Symposium on Fluidics, Paper A1, Peter Peregrinus Ltd, London, 1969, pp. 1-15. Generally, any means that allows asymmetric flow, with low impedance in one direction and high impedance in the other, can be used to enhance natural circulation in accordance with the invention. While the illustrated boiling-water reactor includes internal electric pumps, the present invention applies as well to reactors employing jet pumps. While the described embodiments are presented in the context of boiling-water reactors, the present invention also applies to other forced-circulation reactors capable of limited recirculation by natural circulation. Thus, dual-phase reactors other than boiling-water reactors are provided for, since such reactors have a vapor phase that can serve as a buoyancy head for natural circulation. These and other modifications to and variations upon the described embodiments are provided for by the present invention, the scope of which is limited only by the following claims.