Cooling elements for passive heat removal

• Published in: Nuclear engineering and design Vol. 207; no. 1; pp. 33 - 40
• Main Authors: Warnke, E.P, Kanzleiter, T.F, Hicken, E.F, Dreier, J
• Format: Journal Article Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier B.V 01.07.2001; Elsevier
• Subjects: Applied sciences; coolants; Cooling; Energy; Energy. Thermal use of fuels; Exact sciences and technology; Fission nuclear power plants; Heat exchangers; heat transfer; Installations for energy generation and conversion: thermal and electrical energy; light water reactors; Thermodynamics; Condenser; Heat exchanger; Cooling system; Passive system; Experimental study; Light water reactor; Nuclear reactor
• ISSN: 0029-5493; 1872-759X
• DOI: 10.1016/S0029-5493(00)00423-4

To control design basis and to mitigate severe accidents in future nuclear power plants with light water reactors, it is necessary to remove the heat from the containment by means of passive heat exchangers. Particularly for the severe accident application a new type of heat exchanging element was designed combining several functions. The side facing the atmosphere contains cooling fins, combining the effect of enlarging the heat exchanging surface with the advantage that the ribs can absorb energy from impact loads. The cooling water circulates in press-fitted tubes. To determine the thermal properties, test were performed in four test facilities.