CA1153786A - Apparatus for the automatic sprinkling of the confinement enclosure of a pressurized water reactor - Google Patents
Apparatus for the automatic sprinkling of the confinement enclosure of a pressurized water reactorInfo
- Publication number
- CA1153786A CA1153786A CA000368216A CA368216A CA1153786A CA 1153786 A CA1153786 A CA 1153786A CA 000368216 A CA000368216 A CA 000368216A CA 368216 A CA368216 A CA 368216A CA 1153786 A CA1153786 A CA 1153786A
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- reservoir
- auxiliary reservoir
- tube
- enclosure
- liquid
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired
Links
Classifications
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G21—NUCLEAR PHYSICS; NUCLEAR ENGINEERING
- G21C—NUCLEAR REACTORS
- G21C9/00—Emergency protection arrangements structurally associated with the reactor, e.g. safety valves provided with pressure equalisation devices
- G21C9/004—Pressure suppression
- G21C9/012—Pressure suppression by thermal accumulation or by steam condensation, e.g. ice condensers
-
- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
- Y02E—REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
- Y02E30/00—Energy generation of nuclear origin
- Y02E30/30—Nuclear fission reactors
Landscapes
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Plasma & Fusion (AREA)
- General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- High Energy & Nuclear Physics (AREA)
- Structure Of Emergency Protection For Nuclear Reactors (AREA)
- Nozzles (AREA)
Abstract
ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
Apparatus for the automatic sprinkling of the confinement enclosure of a pressurized water reactor when the pressure in the enclosure reaches a given maximum value, wherein it comprises a main reservoir and a smaller auxiliary reservoir sensitive to the pressure in the enclosure, said two reservoirs being filled with a sprinkling liquid in such a way that the level of the liquid in the auxiliary reservoir is below that of the liquid in the main reservoir, said two reservoirs being interconnected by a first inverted U-tube forming a siphon, whilst a second inverted U-tube forming a siphon with its elbow positioned above the level of the auxiliary reservoir connects the latter to a row of sprinkler nozzles positioned below the bottom of the auxiliary reservoir and within the confinement enclosure.
Apparatus for the automatic sprinkling of the confinement enclosure of a pressurized water reactor when the pressure in the enclosure reaches a given maximum value, wherein it comprises a main reservoir and a smaller auxiliary reservoir sensitive to the pressure in the enclosure, said two reservoirs being filled with a sprinkling liquid in such a way that the level of the liquid in the auxiliary reservoir is below that of the liquid in the main reservoir, said two reservoirs being interconnected by a first inverted U-tube forming a siphon, whilst a second inverted U-tube forming a siphon with its elbow positioned above the level of the auxiliary reservoir connects the latter to a row of sprinkler nozzles positioned below the bottom of the auxiliary reservoir and within the confinement enclosure.
Description
~ 37 ~ ~
AUTOMATIC SPRINKLER
-BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention rela-tes to a passive apparatus making it possible to automatically atomize a liquid, such as water, which may contain chemical addi-tives in the confinement enclosure of a pressurized water reactor, when the pressure in the enclosure reaches a given value.
In the case of an accident resulting from the failure or fracture of the primary circuit or a steam pipe within the reactor confinement enclosure, the pressure and temperature in the enclosure tend to rise and iodine can be released.
In order to constantly maintain the pressure and temperature in the enclosure below a certain value and reduce the iodine quantity which may be released, emergency systems are generally provided, consisting o~
sprinkler circuits having pumps connected to the emergency electrical network. ~owever, these known systems have various disadvantages. Firstly they constitute active systems, whose utilization is con-ditioned by the operation of electrically controlled components, such as pumps and solenoid valves. More-over, these systems are subject to significan-t starting delays, generally of approximately 100 seconds after the sprinkling signal is given.
,.~
3~
AUTOMATIC SPRINKLER
-BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention rela-tes to a passive apparatus making it possible to automatically atomize a liquid, such as water, which may contain chemical addi-tives in the confinement enclosure of a pressurized water reactor, when the pressure in the enclosure reaches a given value.
In the case of an accident resulting from the failure or fracture of the primary circuit or a steam pipe within the reactor confinement enclosure, the pressure and temperature in the enclosure tend to rise and iodine can be released.
In order to constantly maintain the pressure and temperature in the enclosure below a certain value and reduce the iodine quantity which may be released, emergency systems are generally provided, consisting o~
sprinkler circuits having pumps connected to the emergency electrical network. ~owever, these known systems have various disadvantages. Firstly they constitute active systems, whose utilization is con-ditioned by the operation of electrically controlled components, such as pumps and solenoid valves. More-over, these systems are subject to significan-t starting delays, generally of approximately 100 seconds after the sprinkling signal is given.
,.~
3~
- 2 --BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an apparatus for sprinkling the confinement enclosure of a pressur-ized water reactor not having the disadvantages of the prior art equipment and which in particular ensures an automatic, instantaneous sprinkling of the enclosure, without said sprinkling being conditioned by the oper-ation of a solenoid valve, a pump or an electrical supply circuit, as a result of the entirely passive nature of the apparatus in question.
Thus, the present invention relates to an apparatus for the automatic sprinkling of the con-finement enclosure of a pressurized water reactor when the pressure in the enclosure reaches a given maximum value, wherein it comprises a main reservoir and a smaller auxiliary reservoir sensitive to the pressure in the enclosure, said two reservoirs being filled with a sprinkling liquid in such a way that the level of the liquid in the auxiliary reservoir is ~elow that of the liquid in the main reservoir, said two reservoirs being - interconnected by a first inverted U~tube forming a siphon, whilst a second inverted U-tube forming a siphon with its elbow positioned above the level of the aux-iliary reservoir connects the latter to a row of sprinkler nozzles positioned below the bottom of the auxiliary reservoir and within the confinement en-closure.
As a result of the sprinkler, whose basic characteristics have been defined above, when the pressure rises within the confinement enclosure due to an accident caused by the fracture or failure of the primary circuit or a steam pipe within the enclosure, the siphon formed by the first inverted U-tube is auto-matically primed as soon as the pressure in the en-closure exceeds a given value. The water contained in the main reservoir is then discharged into the auxiliary reservoir until the level of the latter reaches the height of the bend or elbow Eormed by the second in-verted U-tube. This rise in the liquid level in the auxiliary reservoir is very fast due to the small volume of the latter. The siphon formed by the second U-tube is in turn primed and the water contained in the aux-iliary reservoir is atomized within the enclosure by the row of sprinkler nozzles. Thus, the apparatus according to the lnvention is entirely passive and automatic, atomization by the sprinkler nozzles taking place with a very shor-t delay.
According to a preferred embodiment of the invention the apparatus comprises a sealed tank defining the main reservoir and the auxiliary reservoir is re-ceived within said tank, for example against the wall.
The normal li~uid level in the main reservoir can then be determined by the height of the auxiliary reservoir walls.
According to a secondary feature of the invention the auxiliary reservoir is connected to a levelling circuit provided with at least one normally closed valve and whose opening makes it possible to fix the liquid level in the auxiliary reservoir.
Preferably the first U-tube is connected to a venting circuit which, during the initial filling, pro-vides certainty of the water level in the two branches of the tube.
According to a first variant of the invention the cross-section of the U-tube branch disposed in the auxiliary reservoir is larger than the cross-section of the other branch of the tube.
According to a second variant of the invention lS a buffer container is provided on the venting circuit of the first U-tube.
The increase in the diameter of the U-tube branch in the auxiliary reservoir or the existence of a buffer container on the venting branch make it possible to limit the increase in the pressure of the volume of air contained in the tube when the liquid rises in the branch of the tube discharging into the main tank.
Thus, for the same priming pressure the height differ-ence between the top of the U-tube and the water level in the main res~ervoir can be increased.
According to yet another secondary feature of the invention the apparatus comprises a liquid supply - 5 ~
circuit issuing into the main reservoir and equipped with at least one normally closed valve. The supply water is then preferably fed into the reservoir via an open tube in the upper part of the enclosure, thus per-mitting the pressure balance between the enclosure andthe tank. The lower part of the tube is terminated by a bend so as to retain a water plug separating the en-closure and tank atmospheres and preventing any evapo-ration of water from the tank. A normal sprinkler circuit using pumps can be connected to the supply pipe downstream of the valve.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING AND PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
An embodiment of the invention will now be described in non-limitative manner with reference to the attached drawing diagrammatically showing an apparatus for the automatic sprinkling of the confinement en~
closure of a pressurized water reactor constructed according to the present invention.
The apparatus shown in the drawing is entirely located within the not shown confinement enclosure of a pressurized water nuclear reactor. It comprises a seal-ed tank 10 of height ~1 in which is arranged, preferably against -the wall oE tank 10, a small auxiliary reservoir 12, whose height H2 is less than the height Hl of tank 10. The volume of the small reservoir 12 is very small compared with that of the main reservoir 8 defined by tank 10 apart from the small reservoir 12.
The present invention relates to an apparatus for sprinkling the confinement enclosure of a pressur-ized water reactor not having the disadvantages of the prior art equipment and which in particular ensures an automatic, instantaneous sprinkling of the enclosure, without said sprinkling being conditioned by the oper-ation of a solenoid valve, a pump or an electrical supply circuit, as a result of the entirely passive nature of the apparatus in question.
Thus, the present invention relates to an apparatus for the automatic sprinkling of the con-finement enclosure of a pressurized water reactor when the pressure in the enclosure reaches a given maximum value, wherein it comprises a main reservoir and a smaller auxiliary reservoir sensitive to the pressure in the enclosure, said two reservoirs being filled with a sprinkling liquid in such a way that the level of the liquid in the auxiliary reservoir is ~elow that of the liquid in the main reservoir, said two reservoirs being - interconnected by a first inverted U~tube forming a siphon, whilst a second inverted U-tube forming a siphon with its elbow positioned above the level of the aux-iliary reservoir connects the latter to a row of sprinkler nozzles positioned below the bottom of the auxiliary reservoir and within the confinement en-closure.
As a result of the sprinkler, whose basic characteristics have been defined above, when the pressure rises within the confinement enclosure due to an accident caused by the fracture or failure of the primary circuit or a steam pipe within the enclosure, the siphon formed by the first inverted U-tube is auto-matically primed as soon as the pressure in the en-closure exceeds a given value. The water contained in the main reservoir is then discharged into the auxiliary reservoir until the level of the latter reaches the height of the bend or elbow Eormed by the second in-verted U-tube. This rise in the liquid level in the auxiliary reservoir is very fast due to the small volume of the latter. The siphon formed by the second U-tube is in turn primed and the water contained in the aux-iliary reservoir is atomized within the enclosure by the row of sprinkler nozzles. Thus, the apparatus according to the lnvention is entirely passive and automatic, atomization by the sprinkler nozzles taking place with a very shor-t delay.
According to a preferred embodiment of the invention the apparatus comprises a sealed tank defining the main reservoir and the auxiliary reservoir is re-ceived within said tank, for example against the wall.
The normal li~uid level in the main reservoir can then be determined by the height of the auxiliary reservoir walls.
According to a secondary feature of the invention the auxiliary reservoir is connected to a levelling circuit provided with at least one normally closed valve and whose opening makes it possible to fix the liquid level in the auxiliary reservoir.
Preferably the first U-tube is connected to a venting circuit which, during the initial filling, pro-vides certainty of the water level in the two branches of the tube.
According to a first variant of the invention the cross-section of the U-tube branch disposed in the auxiliary reservoir is larger than the cross-section of the other branch of the tube.
According to a second variant of the invention lS a buffer container is provided on the venting circuit of the first U-tube.
The increase in the diameter of the U-tube branch in the auxiliary reservoir or the existence of a buffer container on the venting branch make it possible to limit the increase in the pressure of the volume of air contained in the tube when the liquid rises in the branch of the tube discharging into the main tank.
Thus, for the same priming pressure the height differ-ence between the top of the U-tube and the water level in the main res~ervoir can be increased.
According to yet another secondary feature of the invention the apparatus comprises a liquid supply - 5 ~
circuit issuing into the main reservoir and equipped with at least one normally closed valve. The supply water is then preferably fed into the reservoir via an open tube in the upper part of the enclosure, thus per-mitting the pressure balance between the enclosure andthe tank. The lower part of the tube is terminated by a bend so as to retain a water plug separating the en-closure and tank atmospheres and preventing any evapo-ration of water from the tank. A normal sprinkler circuit using pumps can be connected to the supply pipe downstream of the valve.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING AND PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
An embodiment of the invention will now be described in non-limitative manner with reference to the attached drawing diagrammatically showing an apparatus for the automatic sprinkling of the confinement en~
closure of a pressurized water reactor constructed according to the present invention.
The apparatus shown in the drawing is entirely located within the not shown confinement enclosure of a pressurized water nuclear reactor. It comprises a seal-ed tank 10 of height ~1 in which is arranged, preferably against -the wall oE tank 10, a small auxiliary reservoir 12, whose height H2 is less than the height Hl of tank 10. The volume of the small reservoir 12 is very small compared with that of the main reservoir 8 defined by tank 10 apart from the small reservoir 12.
3~
A supply circuit 14 discharges above the main reservoir 18 via a J-shaped tube 15 open at its upper end and terminated by a bend at its lower end issuing into reservoir 18, so as to retain a water plug sepa-rating the atmospheres of the enclosure and -tank and ensuring the balancing of the pressures, whilst prevent-ing any evaporation of the water contained in the tank.
The circuit 14 comprises at least one valve 16 making it possible to fill res~ervoir 18 with water, which may contain chemical additives. Due to the limited height H2 of the side walls of reservoir 12, the supply circuit 14 also makes it possible to fill auxiliary reservoir 12 by overflow when the level of the wa-ter in the main reservoir 18 reaches the top of the side ~alls of reservoir 12.
A conventional sprinkler circuit 17 incorpo-rating at least one pump 19 can be connected in advan-tageous manner to circuit 14 downstream of valve 16.
A levelling circuit 20 issuing at its highest level into auxiliary reservoir 12 and incorporating at least one valve 22 makes it possible to limit the level in the auxiliary reservoir to a height H3, which is sub-stantially lower than height H2 of the water in the main reservoir.
To prevent any untimely priming of the sprinkling process filling, i.e. the opening of valve 16 is in principle prevented when valve 22 is not entirely open.
A first inverted U-tube forming a siphon 2~ is located astride the side wall of reservoir 12, so that it is immersed in the main reservoir by a branch 26 and in the auxiliary reservoir by a branch 28. The elbow of tube 24 is positioned at a distance of hl above the surface of the water in the main reservoir 18.
The elbow of tube 24 is linked with a venting circuit 22 controlled by a pump 34, which is open for a brief moment in order to balance the pressures at the end of filling.
If it is necessary to increase distance hl for a given priming pressure cf the siphon, it is possible to increase the volume of air between the two levels of the first siphon, either by increasing the cross-section of branch 28 immersed in reservoir 12, as shown by con-tinuous lines in the drawing, or by placing a buEfer container 30 on venting circuit 32, as shown by the mixed lines: in the drawing.
Although the two constructional variants described hereinbefore are shown simultaneously in the drawing, it is obvious that they constitute -two con-structional alternatives normally chosen independently of one another.
The sprinkler apparatus according to the invention also comprises a second inverted U-tube form-ing a siphon 36, whereof a first branch 38 is connected ~ 3tt3 to the lower part of the auxiliary reservoir 12 and whereof the second branch 40 is connected to a row of sprinkler nozzles 42. Moreover, the bend of the U-tube 36 is positioned at a distance h2 above the water level in auxiliary reservoir 12, said level being determined by the levelling circuit 20.
The automatic sprinkler apparatus described hereinbefore with reference to the drawings ~unctions in the following manner.
As stated hereinbefore main reservoir 18 and auxiliary reservoir 12 are normally filled by the supply circuit 14 to levels respectively determined by the height of the side walls of auxiliary reservoir 12 and the height of the opening of circuit 20 into reservoir 12, valve 16 and 22 being open simultaneously during filling. At the end of filling valve 34 is opened for a brief moment to balance the pressures between the tank and the air volume of the Eirst siphon.
During the normal operation of the reactor valves 16, 22 and 34 are closed. Main reservoir 18 and au~iliary reservoir 12 are filled in the manner shown in the drawing and the siphons formed by the inverted U~tubes 24 and 36 are unprimed. The pressure within the tight container is applied to the water contained in the reservoir by means of the J-shaped tube 15. It can differ very slightly from the pressure within the tank as a result of the water plug formed in the end of tube 15.
When an accident occurs due to th.e failure or fracture of a primary circuit or a steam pipe within the tightly sealed enclosure of the reactor, the pressure within the enclosure tends to rise. As the complete sprinkler apparatus according to the invention is positioned within the enclosure, this pressure rise expels the water plug from tube 15 and is applied to the free surface of the water in main reservoir 18 and aux-iliary reservoir 12. Thus:, there is a rise in the waterlevel in branches 26 and 28 of U-tube 24. This rise is faster in proportion to the increase in the air volume contained in branch 28, either by increasing the cross-section o~ branch. 28, or by linking said branch with a buffer container 30. Either of these features is able to reduce the influence of the water level rise in branches 26 and 28 on the air pressure rise in siphon 24.
~ hen the pressure increase within the enclo-sure is adequate to reach the priming pressure of siphon 24, the water contained in the main reservoir 18 is automatically discharged by tube 24 into auxiliary reservoir 12. As a result there is an increase in the water level in reservoir 12, which rapidly leads to a rise in the water level in branch 38 of U-tube 36 to above the level of the bend in the latter. The siphon defined by U-tube 36 is consequently primed and the water of the auxiliary reservoir is discharged by the row of sprinkler nozzles 42 into the confinement enclo-sure for condensing the vapour formed and ~or reducing the pressure in the enclosure.
Thus, the sprinkling apparatus according to the invention is started automatically and the pressure rise in the enclosure remains limited without it being necessary to start a pump or selenoid valve, whose oper-ation is always conditioned by the possible ~ailure of their control circuits. Thus, this sprinkling apparatus is entirely passive and does not have the disadvantage of the prior art apparatuses, whilst ful:Eilling similar functions.
Finally it is: pointed out that the main reser-voir defined in tank lO can be resupplied at any time b~
means of pumps from the recirculation oE the drains accumulated in the sump of the enclosure in order to constitute part of the conventional sprinkler circuit 17.
The invention is obviously not limited to the embodiments described and represented hereinbefore and various modifications can be made thereto without pass-ing beyond the scope of the invention. Thus, the ar-rangement of the main reservoir and auxiliary reservoir within the single tanks is not indispensable to the in-vention and it is obvious that these two reservoirs can be constituted by two separate and preferably adjacent vessels, the filling of the auxiliary vessel no longer taking place by overflow or through a connecting pipe.
A supply circuit 14 discharges above the main reservoir 18 via a J-shaped tube 15 open at its upper end and terminated by a bend at its lower end issuing into reservoir 18, so as to retain a water plug sepa-rating the atmospheres of the enclosure and -tank and ensuring the balancing of the pressures, whilst prevent-ing any evaporation of the water contained in the tank.
The circuit 14 comprises at least one valve 16 making it possible to fill res~ervoir 18 with water, which may contain chemical additives. Due to the limited height H2 of the side walls of reservoir 12, the supply circuit 14 also makes it possible to fill auxiliary reservoir 12 by overflow when the level of the wa-ter in the main reservoir 18 reaches the top of the side ~alls of reservoir 12.
A conventional sprinkler circuit 17 incorpo-rating at least one pump 19 can be connected in advan-tageous manner to circuit 14 downstream of valve 16.
A levelling circuit 20 issuing at its highest level into auxiliary reservoir 12 and incorporating at least one valve 22 makes it possible to limit the level in the auxiliary reservoir to a height H3, which is sub-stantially lower than height H2 of the water in the main reservoir.
To prevent any untimely priming of the sprinkling process filling, i.e. the opening of valve 16 is in principle prevented when valve 22 is not entirely open.
A first inverted U-tube forming a siphon 2~ is located astride the side wall of reservoir 12, so that it is immersed in the main reservoir by a branch 26 and in the auxiliary reservoir by a branch 28. The elbow of tube 24 is positioned at a distance of hl above the surface of the water in the main reservoir 18.
The elbow of tube 24 is linked with a venting circuit 22 controlled by a pump 34, which is open for a brief moment in order to balance the pressures at the end of filling.
If it is necessary to increase distance hl for a given priming pressure cf the siphon, it is possible to increase the volume of air between the two levels of the first siphon, either by increasing the cross-section of branch 28 immersed in reservoir 12, as shown by con-tinuous lines in the drawing, or by placing a buEfer container 30 on venting circuit 32, as shown by the mixed lines: in the drawing.
Although the two constructional variants described hereinbefore are shown simultaneously in the drawing, it is obvious that they constitute -two con-structional alternatives normally chosen independently of one another.
The sprinkler apparatus according to the invention also comprises a second inverted U-tube form-ing a siphon 36, whereof a first branch 38 is connected ~ 3tt3 to the lower part of the auxiliary reservoir 12 and whereof the second branch 40 is connected to a row of sprinkler nozzles 42. Moreover, the bend of the U-tube 36 is positioned at a distance h2 above the water level in auxiliary reservoir 12, said level being determined by the levelling circuit 20.
The automatic sprinkler apparatus described hereinbefore with reference to the drawings ~unctions in the following manner.
As stated hereinbefore main reservoir 18 and auxiliary reservoir 12 are normally filled by the supply circuit 14 to levels respectively determined by the height of the side walls of auxiliary reservoir 12 and the height of the opening of circuit 20 into reservoir 12, valve 16 and 22 being open simultaneously during filling. At the end of filling valve 34 is opened for a brief moment to balance the pressures between the tank and the air volume of the Eirst siphon.
During the normal operation of the reactor valves 16, 22 and 34 are closed. Main reservoir 18 and au~iliary reservoir 12 are filled in the manner shown in the drawing and the siphons formed by the inverted U~tubes 24 and 36 are unprimed. The pressure within the tight container is applied to the water contained in the reservoir by means of the J-shaped tube 15. It can differ very slightly from the pressure within the tank as a result of the water plug formed in the end of tube 15.
When an accident occurs due to th.e failure or fracture of a primary circuit or a steam pipe within the tightly sealed enclosure of the reactor, the pressure within the enclosure tends to rise. As the complete sprinkler apparatus according to the invention is positioned within the enclosure, this pressure rise expels the water plug from tube 15 and is applied to the free surface of the water in main reservoir 18 and aux-iliary reservoir 12. Thus:, there is a rise in the waterlevel in branches 26 and 28 of U-tube 24. This rise is faster in proportion to the increase in the air volume contained in branch 28, either by increasing the cross-section o~ branch. 28, or by linking said branch with a buffer container 30. Either of these features is able to reduce the influence of the water level rise in branches 26 and 28 on the air pressure rise in siphon 24.
~ hen the pressure increase within the enclo-sure is adequate to reach the priming pressure of siphon 24, the water contained in the main reservoir 18 is automatically discharged by tube 24 into auxiliary reservoir 12. As a result there is an increase in the water level in reservoir 12, which rapidly leads to a rise in the water level in branch 38 of U-tube 36 to above the level of the bend in the latter. The siphon defined by U-tube 36 is consequently primed and the water of the auxiliary reservoir is discharged by the row of sprinkler nozzles 42 into the confinement enclo-sure for condensing the vapour formed and ~or reducing the pressure in the enclosure.
Thus, the sprinkling apparatus according to the invention is started automatically and the pressure rise in the enclosure remains limited without it being necessary to start a pump or selenoid valve, whose oper-ation is always conditioned by the possible ~ailure of their control circuits. Thus, this sprinkling apparatus is entirely passive and does not have the disadvantage of the prior art apparatuses, whilst ful:Eilling similar functions.
Finally it is: pointed out that the main reser-voir defined in tank lO can be resupplied at any time b~
means of pumps from the recirculation oE the drains accumulated in the sump of the enclosure in order to constitute part of the conventional sprinkler circuit 17.
The invention is obviously not limited to the embodiments described and represented hereinbefore and various modifications can be made thereto without pass-ing beyond the scope of the invention. Thus, the ar-rangement of the main reservoir and auxiliary reservoir within the single tanks is not indispensable to the in-vention and it is obvious that these two reservoirs can be constituted by two separate and preferably adjacent vessels, the filling of the auxiliary vessel no longer taking place by overflow or through a connecting pipe.
Claims (12)
1. An apparatus for the automatic sprinkling of the confinement enclosure of a pressurized water reactor when the pressure in the enclosure reaches a given maximum value, wherein said apparatus comprises a main reservoir and a smaller auxiliary reservoir sensitive to the pressure in the enclosure, said two reservoirs being filled with a sprinkling liquid in such a way that the level of the liquid in the auxiliary reservoir is below that of the liquid in the main reservoir, said two reservoirs being inter-connected by a first inverted U-tube forming a siphon, whilst a second inverted U-tube forming a siphon having an elbow positioned above the level of the auxiliary reservoir connects the latter to a row of sprinkler nozzles positioned below the bottom of the auxiliary reservoir and within the confinement enclosure.
2. An apparatus according to Claim 1, wherein said apparatus comprises a tank defining the main reservoir, the auxiliary reservoir being received within said tank.
3. An apparatus according to Claim 2, wherein the auxiliary reservoir is placed against the tank wall.
4. An apparatus according to Claims 2 or 3, wherein the normal liquid level in the main reservoir is determined by the height of the walls of the auxiliary reservoir.
5. An apparatus according to Claim 1, wherein the auxiliary reservoir is connected to a levelling circuit provided with at least one normally closed valve t an opening of said valve allowing to fix the liquid level in the auxiliary reservoir.
6. An apparatus according to Claim 1, wherein the first U-tube is linked with a venting circuit controlled by at least one valve.
7. An apparatus according to Claim 1, wherein the cross-section of the branch of the first U-tube located in the auxiliary reservoir is larger than the cross-section of the other branch of the tube.
8. An apparatus according to Claim 6, wherein the branch of the first U-tube located in the auxiliary reservoir is connected to a buffer container located in the venting circuit.
9. An apparatus according to Claim 1, wherein said apparatus comprises a liquid supply circuit issuing into the main reservoir and provided with at least one normally closed valve.
10. An apparatus according to Claim 9, wherein the liquid supply circuit issues into the main reservoir by the curved end of a J-shaped tube, the other end of said J-shaped tube issuing into the confinement enclosure, the curved end of the J-shaped tube normally being filled with sprinkling liquid.
11. An apparatus according to Claims 9 or 10, wherein a conventional sprinkler circuit is connected to the liquid supply circuit downstream of the valve.
12. An apparatus according to Claim 1, wherein said apparatus is placed entirely within the confinement enclosure.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| FREN8000843 | 1980-01-15 | ||
| FR8000843A FR2473774B1 (en) | 1980-01-15 | 1980-01-15 | DEVICE FOR AUTOMATICALLY SPRAYING THE CONTAINMENT ENCLOSURE OF A PRESSURIZED WATER REACTOR |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1153786A true CA1153786A (en) | 1983-09-13 |
Family
ID=9237558
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000368216A Expired CA1153786A (en) | 1980-01-15 | 1981-01-09 | Apparatus for the automatic sprinkling of the confinement enclosure of a pressurized water reactor |
Country Status (5)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| EP (1) | EP0032347B1 (en) |
| CA (1) | CA1153786A (en) |
| DE (1) | DE3070749D1 (en) |
| ES (1) | ES498493A0 (en) |
| FR (1) | FR2473774B1 (en) |
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US10319481B2 (en) * | 2013-05-09 | 2019-06-11 | Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute | Passive containment spray system |
Families Citing this family (3)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IT1275576B (en) * | 1995-07-20 | 1997-08-07 | Finmeccanica Spa | DEPRESSURIZATION SYSTEM FOR SYSTEMS OPERATING WITH PRESSURE STEAM |
| DE19722305C1 (en) * | 1997-05-28 | 1998-10-01 | Forschungszentrum Juelich Gmbh | Unit mitigating effects of serious incident in pressure containment dome of nuclear power reactor |
| DE502004007559D1 (en) * | 2003-04-16 | 2008-08-21 | Areva Np Gmbh | CORE TECHNICAL APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR OPERATING A NUCLEAR PLANT |
Family Cites Families (6)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DE1146598B (en) * | 1961-06-14 | 1963-04-04 | Siemens Ag | Safety device for the buildings of power nuclear reactors |
| FR1477135A (en) * | 1965-08-09 | 1967-04-14 | Ca Atomic Energy Ltd | Isolation system for nuclear reactors |
| SE316847B (en) * | 1968-03-28 | 1969-11-03 | Asea Ab | |
| US3566904A (en) * | 1969-04-15 | 1971-03-02 | Atomic Energy Commission | Liquid flow control system |
| US3718539A (en) * | 1971-03-31 | 1973-02-27 | Combustion Eng | Passive nuclear reactor safeguard system |
| SU537389A1 (en) * | 1974-06-05 | 1976-11-30 | Всесоюзный Дважды Ордена Трудового Красного Знамени Теплотехнический Научно-Исследовательский Институт Им.Ф.Э.Дзержинского | System for limiting the consequences of a nuclear power plant accident |
-
1980
- 1980-01-15 FR FR8000843A patent/FR2473774B1/en not_active Expired
- 1980-12-29 EP EP80401880A patent/EP0032347B1/en not_active Expired
- 1980-12-29 DE DE8080401880T patent/DE3070749D1/en not_active Expired
-
1981
- 1981-01-09 CA CA000368216A patent/CA1153786A/en not_active Expired
- 1981-01-14 ES ES498493A patent/ES498493A0/en active Granted
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US10319481B2 (en) * | 2013-05-09 | 2019-06-11 | Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute | Passive containment spray system |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| FR2473774B1 (en) | 1986-01-10 |
| FR2473774A1 (en) | 1981-07-17 |
| EP0032347A2 (en) | 1981-07-22 |
| EP0032347A3 (en) | 1981-08-05 |
| EP0032347B1 (en) | 1985-06-05 |
| ES8301049A1 (en) | 1982-11-01 |
| ES498493A0 (en) | 1982-11-01 |
| DE3070749D1 (en) | 1985-07-11 |
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| MKEX | Expiry |