Does anyone know what type of pump is used in nuclear plant's pump

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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers around the types of pumps used in the pump house of nuclear power plants, specifically focusing on raw service water pumps and their operational characteristics. Participants explore various aspects including pump design, calculations for flow and head, and the distinction between raw service water and service water.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested
  • Mathematical reasoning

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants inquire about the specific type of pumps used in nuclear plant pump houses, with references to service water systems.
  • Others clarify that raw service water pumps are typically centrifugal pumps and discuss their operational setup, including standby modes.
  • Participants raise questions about calculating maximum flow and head for a vertical centrifugal pump based on motor load, suggesting the use of pump characteristic curves.
  • There is a discussion about the design codes applicable to these pumps, with uncertainty about which section of ASME covers them.
  • One participant presents a calculation for the mass flow rate required to reject thermal energy from a reactor, raising concerns about achieving such high flow rates with pumps.
  • Clarifications are made regarding the use of service water versus raw service water, emphasizing their different roles in the cooling process.
  • Some participants share specific data about pump capacities and operational details from a three-unit nuclear station.
  • There is a request for performance curves for pumps, with participants expressing difficulty in finding relevant sources.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally agree on the basic function of raw service water pumps and their categorization as centrifugal pumps. However, there are multiple competing views regarding the operational details, such as the number of pumps in use and their configurations, and the discussion remains unresolved on several technical aspects.

Contextual Notes

Participants express uncertainty about specific design codes and the availability of performance curves for pumps, indicating limitations in available resources and references. The discussion also highlights the complexity of calculating flow rates and head based on varying operational conditions.

new_age
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Does anyone know what type of pump is used in nuclear plant's pump house?
 
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new_age said:
Does anyone know what type of pump is used in nuclear plant's pump house?
Is one referring to service water for providing water to all systems?
 


I am referring to the pumps in the pumphouse that pum "Raw Service Water" which is taken from the lake into condenser. I think there are 4 of these pumps in the pumphouse which work at 33% and one of them is at stand-by mode.
 
This might be of interest -
http://mydocs.epri.com/docs/public/000000000001008282.pdf

http://www.nucleartourist.com/systems/sw.htm

I believe the raw service pumps are more or less standard centrifugal pumps.

http://www.haywardtyler.com/?page_id=88&link_id=2

http://www.aldenlab.com/index.cfm/Services/Pump_Intakes

http://www.gouldspumps.com/market_power.html

http://www.sulzerpumps.com/desktopdefault.aspx/tabid-327/445_read-1022/
 
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If pump's motor load is around 33 ampere and 48 volts, how do you calculate the maximum flow and the head? Note the it is a vertical centrifugal pump
 


new_age said:
If pump's motor load is around 33 ampere and 48 volts, how do you calculate the maximum flow and the head? Note the it is a vertical centrifugal pump
From volts and amps, one calculated the power (horsepower). Then one would need a pump characteristic (curve), which relates power to flow. Head and flow are related. The performance would depend on the design and rpm.

Some pumps are multistage - http://www.engineersedge.com/pumps/multi_stage_pump.htm

http://www.engineeringtoolbox.com/pump-system-curves-d_635.html

http://www.gepower.com/businesses/ge_oilandgas/en/literature/en/downloads/pump_performance_optimization.pdf

http://www.cheresources.com/centrifugalpumps5.shtml

I think pumps can be around 85-90% efficient.
 
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Do you know the design of this type of pump, goes under which section of ASME?
 


new_age said:
Do you know the design of this type of pump, goes under which section of ASME?
I'm not sure what part of the ASME code would cover this. It's definitely not BPV. Perhaps one could find it referenced in an FSAR or DCD.
 


What does DCD stand for?
 
  • #10
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  • #11


Q=mc\DeltaT

If the reactor is a typical 3000 MWthermal, and assuming 34% efficiency.
There is 2010 MW of energy that needed to be rejected. Considering 15 degree
temperature rise to the environment, the required mass flow is:

m= [ 2010x10^6 ] / [ 4.2x10^3 x 15 ]

m= 32000 kg/s

How do we achieve this flow rate with pumps? 32000 kg/s is very large number
 
  • #12


The heat sink for rejected thermal energy does not include the service water. Service water is used in closed systems, and this water is processed and cleaned up before use. The condenser rejects heat to lake, sea or river water, or air (cooling tower).
 
  • #13


Pumphouse is the place for monitoring the lake water (adding chlorine, blocking debris etc) and this water is pumped into condenser. I the water that goes from the lake to pumphouse and then to condeser is called a "raw service water" and is different than "service water".

Service water is used for emergency purposes or for moderator heat exchanger.
 
  • #14


new_age said:
Pumphouse is the place for monitoring the lake water (adding chlorine, blocking debris etc) and this water is pumped into condenser. I the water that goes from the lake to pumphouse and then to condeser is called a "raw service water" and is different than "service water".

Service water is used for emergency purposes or for moderator heat exchanger.
Raw service water is mostly untreated in terms of mineral content, but it is cleaned (debris removed). Chlorine may be added in order to reduce biofouling, but that may be restricted depending on the site. The raw water is pump to the condensers (condenser cooling water, CCW) and used more or less as is. Some plants may have a cooling tower, so that the cooling tower uses the raw water which is separated from the CCW, and CCW is a closed loop receiving makeup from the plant service water system.

http://www.nucleartourist.com/systems/ct.htm

I found some capacities of pumps from a three unit nuclear station.
Each of the three (3) power generation units has four (4) condenser circulating water (CCW) pumps for a total of twelve (12) pumps. The operation of all 12 pumps for three-unit operation would result in a total flow of 2,034,000 gallons per minute or 2929 million gallons per day.
678000 gpm per unit, 169500 gpm per pump

11300 gps per unit, 2825 gps per pump

density = 8.342 lbm/gal, 3.784 kg/gal

42760 kg/s per unit, 10690 kg/s per pump
 
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  • #15


678000 / 3 = 226,000 GPM per actual working pump. In order to calculate the pump head I need to have a performance curve that is in that range, but there is no source on the web. Do you know where I could find that?
 
  • #16


new_age said:
678000 / 3 = 226,000 GPM per actual working pump. In order to calculate the pump head I need to have a performance curve that is in that range, but there is no source on the web. Do you know where I could find that?
There are 4 pumps per unit (reactor).

One would have to find a pump characteristic curve a similarly rated pump.
 
  • #17


Astronuc said:
There are 4 pumps per unit (reactor).

It's true that there are 4 pumps. but 1 one of them is on stand-by mode. so each of those 3 left pumps provide 33% of the flow need.

I am still searching for such a curve, it doesn't exist :)
 
  • #18


new_age said:
It's true that there are 4 pumps. but 1 one of them is on stand-by mode. so each of those 3 left pumps provide 33% of the flow need.

I am still searching for such a curve, it doesn't exist :)
The plant description mentioned 12 pumps and the capacity. It did not indicate that 1 of 4 were in standby. It's possible that they operate all 4 at reduced capacity, but three could serve the plant, or perhaps there is a 5th standby pump. I will try to find out.

I will try to find a representative pump curve. I have an old reference book on hydraulics.
 

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