GB898332A - Process for regulating the function of a nuclear reactor and installation for carrying it into effect - Google Patents

Abstract

898,332. Nuclear power plant. COCKERILLONGREE S.A. July 1, 1958 [July 1, 1957], No. 21040/58. Class 39(4). A nuclear power plant is controlled by automatically regulating the flow of primary coolant to be proportional to the amount of useful vapour produced. The coolant may be liquid or gaseous and may also be a moderator or a solution or suspension of fissile, fertile or moderating material. If there is no evaporation of primary coolant, the coolant flow is made proportional to the rate of production of vapour in a primary heat exchanger. A coolant pump is driven by a low-expansion turbine in the main vapour flow, or by an electric motor or by a full-expansion turbine running on vapour bled from the main flow, the last two having controls operated by a vapour flow meter. If a liquid primary coolant such as water is allowed to vaporize, similar regulation is used, proportional to the coolant vapour flow. In Fig. 5 coolant enters at 1 a reactor where it acts also as moderator and reflector; coolant vapour leaves at 7, drives a low-expansion turbine i and is condensed in a heat exchanger m<SP>1</SP>. The condensate is pumped back to the reactor by pumps k<SP>11</SP>, h driven by the turbine. Unevaporated coolant flows down outside the reactor core and leaves the reactor at 2, joining the condensate at the pump h. A by-pass pump r is provided for starting. An apparatus f<SP>1</SP> controls the coolant level and pressure in the reactor by operating a valve d<SP>1</SP>. The pump and turbine may be mounted in a common fluid-tight vessel. Any part of the plant may be duplicated and the reactor may be divided into regions each with its own coolant circuit.