Patent GB-1140485-A (GB)
Title: Method of power generation and thermal power plant for the application of said method
Inventor: POUDEROUX PIERRE
IPC: F22B35/00
Filed: 1967-01-23
Abstract: 1,140,485. Heating steam generators by hot liquids. STEIN & ROUBAIX. 23 Jan., 1967 [3 Feb., 1966], No. 3360/67. Heading F4A. [Also in Divisions F1 and G6] A power plant comprises, a primary fluid circuit between a nuclear reactor heat source 1 and a heat exchanger 5, a secondary fluid circuit 8 between the heat exchanger 5 and a steam (or other vapour) generator 10, the generated steam flowing in a utilization circuit 11, means for separate regulation of the fluid flows in the primary and secondary circuits, and means for maintaining constant the temperature of the steam leaving the evaporator 16 of the steam generator prior to superheating. The primary and secondary fluids are liquid metals, such as sodium or a sodium-potassium mixture. The primary circuit 4 has a sensor 20 which adjusts the output of a circulating pump 6 to maintain the fluid temperature at entry to the reactor 1 constant and a sensor 21 which adjusts the control rods 2 to vary the heat output of the reactor and thus maintain constant the fluid temperature at outlet from the reactor. The secondary circuit 8, which is heated by heat transfer in the exchanger 5, comprises an evaporator 16, superheater 17 and resuperheater 18 forming the steam generator 10 for the water and steam flowing in the utilization circuit 11. The steam expands through power turbines 12, 13. A sensor 22 adjusts the output of the circulating pump 9 of the secondary circuit to maintain the steam temperature leaving evapora - tor 16 constant irrespective of load fluctuations on the turbines. A sensor 24 maintains the corresponding steam pressure constant by adjusting the feedwater flow from condenser 14. A sensor 26 maintains the superheated steam temperature constant by adjusting a valve 19 to vary the proportion of secondary fluid flowing through the superheater 17. A further sensor 28 maintains the resuperheated steam temperature constant by adjusting a valve 29 in a by-pass line 30 around the resuperheater 18. In a slightly modified plant, Fig. 4 (not shown), a by-pass line (34) around the evaporator 16 is provided in the secondary circuit 8 and the steam temperature leaving the evaporator is maintained constant by sensor 22 adjusting a valve (35) in the by-pass line. Sensor 26 adjusts the output of pump 9 and sensor 28 adjusts by means of a valve (36) the flow of secondary fluid entering the resuperheater 18. In a further modification, Fig. 5 (not shown), sensor 26 acts on the reactor control rods 2 and sensor 28 acts on valve 19 controlling the secondary fluid input to the superheater 17. In a still further modification, Fig. 6 (not shown), the reactor heat output is constant and temperature sensor 21 adjusts the output of the primary circulating pump, whereas sensor 20 adjusts the secondary circulating pump. The steam temperature leaving evaporator 16 is maintained constant by sensor 22 adjusting the feedwater flow. The corresponding pressure is maintained constant by sensor 24 adjusting a flow valve at the turbine inlet.