An Assisted Flow Circulation Option for Integral Pressure Water Reactors

Abstract

In this paper the use of jet pumps for assissting the coolant circulation in a integral pressure water reactor is considered. The integral pressure water reactors are characterized by the presence of all high pressure and temperature components inside a single pressure vessel. In this way the core, steam generators, pressurizer and pumps are located inside the same pressure vessel. This kind of systems usually consider natural circulation for the low power modules and forced circulation for the high power ones. CAREM-25 is the prototype reactor of CAREM design. It is a 100 MW thermal power integral pressure water reactor that use natural circulation in the primary circuit. The possibility, advantages and constraints, of using jet pumps for assissting the primary flow circulation and increase the reactor power are analyzed.