Relaxation of the requirements on loop height and heat transfer area of a passive heat removal system in integral SMR using a self-powered booster

Abstract

In this study, compactness improvement capacity of a self-powered efficiency booster is analyzed for natural circulation systems used in integral small modular reactors (SMR). Based on thermoelectric principle, the booster converts heat energy into electricity directly, which is used to produce additional driving force for natural circulation flow and heat transfer. Thus, flow and heat transfer are enhanced and such systems do not rely on gravity solely. Consequently, requirement on loop height and heat transfer area can be relaxed. Numerical simulations and experimental tests have been carried out. The results indicate that, using the booster, loop height is no longer a determining factor for natural circulation systems, and lower height can be used for the same performance. Furthermore, if the desirable heat transfer rate was kept, the heat exchanger area can be reduced by a factor of 25%–78%. With these results, compactness improvement capacity of the booster is proved.