Heating Start-Up Method and Demonstration for Full Natural Circulation Reactor

Abstract

Abstract Since there is no main coolant pump (MCP), the full natural circulation reactor can not use the MCP to heat the reactor coolant system to normal operating temperature prior to reactor criticality. This paper presents an external starting heating method. The principle and brief system description of the external start-up heating system is presented. By reasonably arranging the inlet and outlet nozzles of start-up heating in the reactor, the external start-up heating source is used to heat the reactor coolant system, by establishing natural circulation in the reactor. In order to demonstrate the feasibility of external start-up heating system, the heating effect of start-up is analyzed, and the analysis results are verified by experiments. On the other hand, the impact of external start-up heating system on reactor operation and safety is evaluated. In order to ensure that the external start-up heating system does not affect the operation and safety of the reactor, the suggestions on the configuration and operation of external start-up heating system are given. By the external start-up heating system, the problem of startup heating without main pump of full natural circulation reactor is successfully solved. Therefore, it provides an option of hot start for the full natural circulation reactor.