Patent Number: 048470430
Section: abstract

An improved liquid jet pump for water is described in which the water issuing from the jet pump drive nozzle passes into a nozzle mixing chamber where steam is introduced to nozzle outflow. This steam, traveling in the same direction as and converging upon the liquid driving stream, is raised to high velocities. These uncommonly high velocities of steam are attained both as a result of passage through a converging/diverging nozzle and the action of condensation upon the passing liquid stream. The liquid driving stream is supplied at a temperature which promotes immediate condensation of the steam molecules of the high speed steam jet. A process of momentum exchange immediately occurs within the drive nozzle mixing chamber between the high-velocity steam and the parallel-moving slower liquid stream with momentum being transferred from the steam to the liquid driving stream. The liquid driving stream with its enhanced momentum is thereafter exhausted from the nozzle mixing chamber and used conventionally to drive the jet pump. Improved jet pump recirculation system is described for use with current and advanced boiling water nuclear reactors.