Header menu link for other important links
X
Post shut-down decay heat removal from nuclear reactor core by natural convection loops in sodium pool
Published in Elsevier Ltd
2016
Volume: 301
   
Pages: 59 - 73
Abstract
The 500 MWe Indian pool type Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor (PFBR) has a passive core cooling system, known as the Safety Grade Decay Heat Removal System (SGDHRS) which aids to remove decay heat after shut down phase. Immediately after reactor shut down the fission products in the core continue to generate heat due to beta decay which exponentially decreases with time. In the event of a complete station blackout, the coolant pump system may not be available and the safety grade decay heat removal system transports the decay heat from the core and dissipates it safely to the atmosphere. Apart from SGDHRS, various natural convection loops in the sodium pool carry the heat away from the core and deposit it temporarily in the sodium pool. The buoyancy driven flow through the small inter-wrapper gaps (known as inter-wrapper flow) between fuel subassemblies plays an important role in carrying the decay heat from the sub-assemblies to the hot sodium pool, immediately after reactor shut down. This paper presents the transient prediction of flow and temperature evolution in the reactor subassemblies and the sodium pool, coupled with the safety grade decay heat removal system. It is shown that with a properly sized decay heat exchanger based on liquid sodium and air chimney stacks, the post shutdown decay heat can be safely dissipated to atmospheric air passively. © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
About the journal
JournalData powered by TypesetNuclear Engineering and Design
PublisherData powered by TypesetElsevier Ltd
ISSN00295493
Open AccessNo
Concepts (16)
  •  related image
    Breeder reactors
  •  related image
    Buoyancy
  •  related image
    Fast reactors
  •  related image
    Fission products
  •  related image
    Lakes
  •  related image
    Liquid metals
  •  related image
    Natural convection
  •  related image
    Nuclear reactors
  •  related image
    Reactor cores
  •  related image
    Sodium
  •  related image
    CORE TEMPERATURE
  •  related image
    FAST BREEDER REACTORS
  •  related image
    INTER-WRAPPER FLOW
  •  related image
    LIQUID SODIUM
  •  related image
    TRANSIENT NATURAL CONVECTION
  •  related image
    Heat convection