초록 ▼

A forced-circulation boiling-water reactor includes fluidic diodes in the coolant fluid return path between the pump deck and the core inlet plenum. The fluidic diodes permit a downstream flow to proceed relatively freely, but substantially resist upstream flow. When pumps are shut down, the fluidic

A forced-circulation boiling-water reactor includes fluidic diodes in the coolant fluid return path between the pump deck and the core inlet plenum. The fluidic diodes permit a downstream flow to proceed relatively freely, but substantially resist upstream flow. When pumps are shut down, the fluidic diodes serve to augment natural circulation, thus enhancing core stability. When the pumps are operating, the fluidic diodes serve to resist backflow, minimizing any loss of pump efficiency. This direction-flow asymmetry imposed by the fluidic diodes is achieved without moving parts, so as to achieve a high level of reliability.

대표청구항 ▼

A forced-circulation dual-phase reactor comprising: a reactor vessel; a reactor core disposed within said vessel and defining a core inlet plenum below said core; a chimney means disposed above said core for guiding fluid exiting upward from said core along a substantially vertical path so as to sup

A forced-circulation dual-phase reactor comprising: a reactor vessel; a reactor core disposed within said vessel and defining a core inlet plenum below said core; a chimney means disposed above said core for guiding fluid exiting upward from said core along a substantially vertical path so as to support a steam/water column therein; a fluid return path for recirculating fluid exiting said chimney means to said core inlet plenum, said fluid return path defining an upstream direction and a downstream direction; pump means for controllably enhancing a pressure differential across a boundary in said fluid return path so as to urge fluid in said downstream direction along said fluid return path; and fluidic diode means for asymmetrically constraining fluid flow across said boundary, said fluidic diode means providing a path for at least some fluid to bypass said pump means and to pass relatively freely across said boundary in said downstream direction, said fluidic diode means relatively restricting fluid flow across said boundary in said upstream direction; whereby, when said pump means is not operating, said fluid diode means provides relatively unrestricted natural circulation flow across said boundary, and when said pump means is operating, said fluid diode means relatively restricts backflow across said boundary.