[0001] The present invention relates a steam generator, and more particularly, to a steam
generator which is suitable for employment in a liquid metal fast breeder reactor.
[0002] A conventional large scale herical coiling type steam generator in a liquid metal
fast breeder reactor is known in, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication
No. 28467/1980.
[0003] High temperature liquid metal sodium serving as a heating medium flows into a longitudinal
placement type steam generator through a sodium inlet nozzle provided at the upper
end of a barrel of the steam generator. The liquid metal sodium descends through a
tube bundle portion around which is vertically and helically wound a multiplicity
of heat transfer tubes. This tube bundle portion is disposed in a region which is
so formed as to be surrounded by a cylindrical inner shroud and an outer shroud. The
thus lowered sodium then flows out through a sodium outlet nozzle.
[0004] Feed-water is supplied through a. feed-water inlet nozzle into a feed-water inlet
chamber and is then led into a mulitiplicity of the heat transfer tubes, whereby the
water is raised. At this time, the feed-water which has flowed in at low temperature
is subjected to a thermal exchange with respect to the sodium which flows at high
temperature on the outside of the heat transfer tubes.
[0005] With this step, the feed-water is preheated, boiled and superheated, thus vaporizing
the feed-water at high temperature and at high pressure. The thus produced vapor is
collected in a vapor outlet chamber and then fed out from a vapor outlet nozzle to
a turbine.
[0006] Fig. 3B shows a general example of a secondary sodium system loop of a fast breeder
reactor which includes the above-described steam generators la and lb. This system
loop is constituted by an intermediate heat exchanger 23, the steam generators la
and lb, a circulating pump 24 and pipes 31a, 32a and 33a. The intermediate heat exchanger
23 performs the thermal exchange in regard to the primary sodium and the secondary
sodium. The steam generators la ; and lb produce vapor by effecting a thermal exchange
between the feed-water and the secondary sodium with high temperature which is transmitted
from the intermediate heat exchanger 23. The circulating pump 24 circulates the secondary
sodium.
[0007] A conventional steam generators shown in Fig. 3B are constituted by a superheater
la and an evaporator lb which have the same structure with respect to each other.
The evaporator lb evaporates the feed-water by virtue of the heat evolved by the sodium;
and the superheater la has a function to convert the vapor produced by the evaporator
lb into the superheated vapor by further heating it with the sodium.
[0008] The secondary sodium which has been heated at high temperature by means of the intermediate
heat exchanger 23 is transmitted via a hot leg pipe 31a, a middle leg pipe 32a and
a cold leg pipe 33a to the superheater la or the evaporator lb.
[0009] The middle leg pipe 32a extended form the lower end of the superheater la passes
through a floor (from the point f
l to the point f
2) on which the superheater la is installed and is then descended. Furthermore, the
middle leg pipe 32a reverses the piping direction thereof at the lower portion of
the floor and again passes through the floor so as to reach the upper portion of the
evaporator lb. The cold leg pipe 33a extended from the lower end of the evaporator
lb passes through the floor (from the point f
3 to the point f
4) on which the evaporator lb is installed and is then descended.
[0010] In the large scale steam generator, as described above, the sodium pipe is large
in diameter; hence, it is required to avoid an increase in the length of a supporting
skirt. For this reason, through-holes are formed in the floor, and further, a bent
portion of the sodium pipe is provided beneath the floor such as to be led round.
[0011] The large through-holes are formed respectively in the floor on which the superheater
la and the evaporator lb are installed. In such a case, elavorations are required
so as to obtain the strength of the floor when designing the structure of the reinforced
concrete or disposing the reinforcing bar as compared with an arrangement wherein
no through-hole is formed therein.
[0012] Moreover, the sodium pipe is led round on the upper, lower and lateral sides of the
steam generator, this involving a large space of pipe arrangement. Namely, such arrangement
is the very factor which enlarges the structure itself.
[0013] In the above-described pipe arrangement, if the cold leg pipe 33a in the vicinity
of the sodium outlet nozzle of the evaporator lb is damaged, all of the sodium within
the evaporator lb flows out into the atmosphere where it is virtually certain to ignite.
Also, in as much as the through-holes are formed in the floor, some of the leaked
sodium would flow into other equipment, spreading the damage and increasing the danger.
[0014] Moreover, as an another example, a large scale steam generator of having a coiling
type in a liquid metal fast breeder reactor is known in the publication papers. (ASME
80-C2/NE-31 "Steam Generator Design and Experience in the SNR-Project", page 10, Fig.
7).
[0015] The sodium within the longitudinal placement type steam generator of this publication
papers flows into through the sodium inlet nozzle provided at the lower end of the
barrel of the steam generator and is then raised within the inner shroud with which
the sodium inlet nozzle is directly communicated, thereby reaching an upper sodium
plenum chamber.
[0016] Thereafter, the flow direction of the sodium is converted, so that the sodium descends
through the tube bundle portion around and then flows onto the outside of the steam
generator through the sodium outlet nozzle provided beneath the barrel separately
the sodium inlet nozzle.
[0017] In this example, the sodium flows both inside and outside of the inner shroud, and
there is a great difference in temperature between the inside flow and the outside
flow thereof, whereby a great thermal stress is presumably imparted to the inner shroud.
[0018] Since the tube bundle portion is supported by the inner shroud, the inner shroud
must be shielded from the thermal stress in so far as is possible.
[0019] Since the inner shroud is connected to the barrel, it is necessary to measure for
the purpose of absorbing the difference in the thermal expansion between the inner
shroud and the barrel.
[0020] Moreover, the sodium pipe is provided on the lower side of the apparatus; hence,
it is reasonable to assume that all the sodium within the steam generator would flow
out if the pipe were seriously damaged, the flow mostly occurring in the damaged region.
[0021] As mentioned above, some technical problems still remain unsolved in both prior arts.
Further, there is no idea to utilize the inner shroud so as to the sodium or heating
medium flow out therethrough. If the heating medium flow out from the upper end portion
of the inner shroud, it is difficult to reduce the difference in temperature about
a region in the vicinity of the inner shroud.
[0022] An object of the present invention is to provide a steam generator wherein a difference
in temperature about a region in the vicinity of an inner shroud can be reduced.
[0023] Another object of the present invention is to provide a steam generator wherein a
thermal stress on an inner shroud can be reduced.
[0024] Still object of the present invention is to provide a steam generator wherein a compact
piping structure can be obtained.
[0025] Stillmore object of the present invention is to provide a steam generator wherein
a space required for disposing the pipes can be reduced.
[0026] Further object of the present invention is to provide a steam generator wherein an
amount of leaked heating medium can be minimized.
[0027] Furthermore object of the present invention is to provide a steam generator wherein
no through-hole can be formed within the floor on which the steam generator is -J.nstalled.
[0028] The present invention is a steam generator comprising: a barrel having an inlet portion
and an outlet portion for a heating medium; a multiplicity of heat transfer tubes
being formed vertically in a helical configuration and being disposed in the barrel;
an inner shroud formed a lower end opening being disposed such as to pass through
the central portion of the helical heat transfer tubes and supporting the helical
heat transfer tubes, the lower end opening being formed such as the heating medium
flows into the inner shroud through the lower end opening; and an outer shroud being
disposed on the outside of the helical heat transfer tubes and forming a passage for
the heating medium between the inner shroud and the outer shroud; characterized in
that both the inlet portion and the outlet portion for the heating medium are provided
respectively at the upper portion of the barrel, an opening is formed in the upper
end portion of the inner shroud so as to the heating medium flows out through said
upper end opening of the inner shroud, and a region in the vicinity of the inner shroud
is filled with a stagnant heating medium or an inert gas.
[0029] The advantages offered by the present invention are a compact and secure steam generator
which has effects wherein it is possible to reduce the difference in temperature about
- a region in the vicinity of the inner shroud, the thermal stress on the inner shroud,
the space for installing the steam generator as well as the amount of pipe, and to
decrease the amount of leaked heating medium if the pipes are damaged and further
to minimize the damage from a heating medium fire, should one occur.
[0030]
Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a steam generator of a first embodiment
according to the present invention;
Fig. la is a section view of along line a-a in Fig. 1;
Fig. 2 is a structural view which shows a steam generator constituted by a superheater
and an evaporator in combination according to the present invention;
Fig. 3A is an isometric diagram of a secondary sodium system loop according to the
present invention;
Fig. 3B is an isometric diagram of a secondary sodium system loop according to the
prior art;
Fig. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view of a steam generator of a second embodiment
according to the present invention;
Fig. 5 is a longtitudinal sectional view of a steam generator of a third embodiment
according to the present invention; and
Fig. 5a is a sectional view of along line a-a in Fig. 5.
[0031] A preferred embodiment in accordance with the present invention will hereinafter
be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
[0032] Fig. 1 shows a steam generator 1 of a first embodiment according to the present invention.
[0033] In the steam generator 1, a multiplicity of heat transfer tubes 2 pass through the
lower portion of a cylindrical barrel 3, these heat transfer tubes 2 being communicated
with feed-water inlet chambers 4. The feed-water inlet chambers 4 are provided at
the outside lower portion of the barrel 3 of the steam generator 1.
[0034] The heat transfer tubes 2 are vertically and helically wound around a cylindrical
inner shroud 5 having an upper end opening 5a and a lower end opening 5b in the barrel
3, thereby forming a helically coiled tube bundle portion 6. These helical heat transfer
tubes 2 further pass through the.' upper portion of the barrel 3 so as to be communicated
with vapor outlet chambers 7.
[0035] A cylindrical outer shroud 8 is provided on the outside of the helically coiled tube
bundle portion 6, such outer shroud 8 being designed for the purpose of shielding
the heat and forming an offtake for sodium or heating medium.
[0036] A dual-purpose sodium inlet-outlet pipe or nozzle is provided at a single upper portion
above the barrel 3. A sodium outlet pipe or a sodium outlet nozzle 9 is coaxially
provided within a sodium inlet pipe or a sodium inlet nozzle 10. Such sodium outlet
pipe 9 passing through a bent portion 11 of the sodium inlet pipe 10 and further being
connected to each other with the aid of a metal bellows 12 as a displacement absorption
mechanism.
[0037] The sodium inlet pipe 10 includes an opening 13 which is so formed in an upper sodium
plenum chamber 14 such as to be communicated therewith. The sodium outlet pipe 9 extends
downwardly and passes through the upper end opening 5a of the inner shroud 5. Such
sodium outlet pipe 9 includes another opening 15 which is formed in a lower sodium
plenum chamber 16 such as to be communicated therewith.
[0038] The sodium outlet pipe 9 has a double pipe structure 18 with respect to the length
ranging from the metal bellows 12 to the upper portion of the inner shroud 5. An inert
gas for medium as a thermal insulating material is encapsulated in a gap 17 formed
between the inner pipe and the outer pipe of the double pipe structure 18.
[0039] A body supporting skirt 19 is provided at the lower portion of the barrel 3, the
body supporting skirt 19 supporting the steam generator 1. No through-hole is provided
in the concrete floor 20 on which the steam generator 1 is installed.
[0040] In this first embodiment, the steam generator 1 is the non-liquid level type, and
thus the inside portion of the barrel 3 is filled with the sodium. The initial method
of filling the steam generator 1 with the sodium is usually on of two types: one is
the pressurizing method wherein the pressurized sodium injected into the barrel 3
of the steam generator 1; and the other is the vacuum pull-in method wherein a high
vacuum inside of the barrel 3 of the steam generator 1 pulles the sodium into the
barrel 3.
[0041] When the sodium is put in by employing the pressurizing method, the inner region
of the inner shroud 5 and the similar region formed by the metal bellows 12 and the
sodium outlet pipe 9 are each closed at one end thereof, thereby enclosing the fluid.
It is also possible for the sodium to be filled in by the vacuum pull-in method. The
above-described two regions are filled with stagnant or expended fluid regions by
either method.
[0042] The high temperature sodium serving as a heating medium passes through a gap 21 formed
between the sodium inlet pipe 10 and the sodium outlet pipe 9, both of which are provided
on the upper side of the barrel 3. Such high temperature sodium flows into the barrel
3 of the steam generator 1 and then descends through the helically coiled tube bundle
portion 6 around which is helically wound with the helical heat transfer tubes 2.
[0043] Thereafter, the high temperature sodium reaches the lower sodium plenum chamber 16.
The high temperature sodium is subjected to the thermal exchange with respect to the
water and the vapor within the helical heat transfer tubes 2.
[0044] Feed-water is supplied through a feed-water inlet pipe or nozzle into a feed-water
inlet chamber 4 and is then led into a mulitiplicity of the helical heat transfer
tubes 2, whereby the water is raised. At this time, the feed-water which has flowed
in at low temperature (about 240
oC with about 150 ata) is subjected to a thermal exchange with respect to the sodium
which flow at high temperature (about 500°C with about 4~5 ata) on the outside of
the helical heat transfer tubes 2.
[0045] With this step, the feed-water is preheated, boiled and superheated, thus vaporizing
the feed-water at high temperature (about 487
0C with high pressure about 33 ata). Then the sodium becomes at low temperature (about
320°C with about 4~5 ata). The thus produced vapor is collected in a vapor outlet
chamber 7 and then fed out from a vapor outlet pipe or nozzle to a turbine.
[0046] The low temperature sodium (about 320°C with about 4~5 ata) which has reached the
lower sodium plenum chamber 16 changes its flow direction and flows through the opening
13 of the sodium outlet pipe 9 into the sodium outlet pipe 9. Then, this low temperature
sodium is raised and flows out from the steam generator 1.
[0047] There is a great difference in temperature between the sodium descending outside
the inner shroud 5 and the sodium ascending inside the sodiumn outlet pipe 9. However,
the region which is formed such as to be surrounded by the inner shroud 5 and the
sodium outlet pipe 9 is filled with the stagnant or expended fluid such as sodium
or an inert gas, whereby a difference in temperature about the region between the
inner shroud 5 and the outlet pipe 9 is reduced and also a great thermal stress is
not imparted on the inner shroud 5.
[0048] The inner shroud 5 is joined to the barrel 3 and further to the sodium outlet pipe
9. Accordingly, the metal bellows 12 is provided on the sodium inlet pipe 10 in order
to absorb the difference in the thermal expansion between the sodium outlet pipe 9
and the barrel 3. The sodium inlet-outlet pipe or nozzle has a double structure for
the purpose of obtaining a preferable sodium flux in the upper sodium plenum chamber
14 and a uniform sodium flux at the upper end portion of the helically coiled tube
bundle portion 6.
[0049] The sodium inlet pipe 10 and the sodium outlet pipe 9 are concentrated at the upper
portion of the barrel 3 respectively. A bulkhead or patitioning plate 22 is provided
in order to avoid the damage to the sodium inlet pipe 10 and the sodium outlet pipe
9 if the water-vapor system pipes rupture.
[0050] In the steam generator according to the present invention, Fig. 2 shows a connecting
arrangement of the pipes for sodium, this pipe arrangement being based on a superheater
1A and an evaporator 1B. The steam generator 1 is constituted by the superheater lA
and the evaporator lB which have the same structure with respect to each other.
[0051] Fig. 3A shows a general example of a secondary sodium system loop of a fast breeder
reactor which includes the above-described steam generator 1 of the first embodiment
in the present invention.
[0052] This system loop is constituted by an intermediate heat exhanger 23, the steam generator
1, a circulating pump 24 and a hot leg pipe 31A, a middle leg pipe 32A and a cold
leg pipe 33A. The intermediate heat exhanger 23 performs the thermal exchange in regard
to the primary sodium and the secondary sodium. The steam generator 1 produces vapor
by effecting a thermal exchange between the feed-water and the secondary sodium with
high temperature which is transmitted from the intermediate heat exchanger 23. The
circulating pump 24 circulates the secondary sodium.
[0053] The high temperature sodium moved from an intermediate heat exchanger 23 flows in
via the sodium inlet pipe 10 of the superheater 1A and then flows out via the sodium
outlet pipe 9. The sodium outlet pipe 9 of the superheater lA is communicated with
the sodium inlet pipe 10 of the evaporator 1B through the cold leg pipe 33A. The sodium
transmitted; from the superheater lA flows via the sodium inlet pipe 10 of the evaporator
lB into the evaporator 1B and then flows···· out through the sodium outlet pipe 9.
[0054] Where the steam generator 1 of the first embodiment according to the present invention
is adopted, as shown in- Fig. 2, there is no necessity for any through-hole to be
formed in the floor 20 on which the steam generator 1 constituted by the superheater
lA and the evaporator 1B is installed; hence, the strength of the installation floor
20 can securely be maintained by adjusting the thickness thereof.
[0055] Furthermore, it is practicable to install the superheater 1A and the evaporator lB
in the same chamber by an arrangement wherein these two, that is the superheater 1A
and the evaporator 1B, as a combined installation are brought closer each other.
[0056] In addition, no sodium pipe passes through the floor 20 on which the steam generator
1 is installed. With this arrangement, the space for installing the steam generator
1 is made smaller than that of the prior arts.
[0057] Moreover, all the sodium pipes, that is the hot leg pipe 31A, the middle pipe 32A
and the cold pipe 33A, are provided on the upper side of the superheater lA and the
evaporator 1B. Therefore, the sodium within the steam generator 1 does not flow out
at all even if the sodium pipes 31A, 32A and 33A are damaged. The amount of leaked
sodium can be minimized as compared with the prior arts wherein the sodium pipe in
the proximity of the sodium outlet nozzle is damaged.
[0058] No through-hole is formed in the floor 20 on which the steam generator 1 is installed,
this preventing any leaked sodium from flowing into other parts other of the equipment,
thereby greatly reducing the possibility of fire caused by the leaked sodium.
[0059] Fig. 3A is a schematic diagram of a secondary sodium system loop of one embodiment
which employs the steam generator 1 constituted by the superheater lA and the evaporator
1B according to the present invention.
[0060] As shown Fig. 3A, in comparison with Fig. 3B which shows the schematic diagram of
the secondary sodium system loop of the prior art, the piping in this case can be
eliminated when the above first embodiment of the present invention is adopted.
!
[0061] If the constitution of the steam generator takes only one unit, that is, in the case
of the continuous percolation, it is possible to reduce the number of pipes as well
as the space for disposing the pipes in regard to the secondary sodium system loop
by dint of adopting the present invention. Moreover, it obviously reduces the extent
of damage of a sodium fire occurs.
[0062] Fig. 4 shows a steam generator of a second embodiment according to the present invention.
It is shown in Fig. 4 an arrangement wherein an inner shroud 41 provides a metal bellows
42 thereof and a metal bellows 42 as a displacement absorption mechanism is provided
within the barrel 3. The inner shroud 41 has an upper end opening 41a and a lower
end opening 41b. The metal bellows 42 absorbs the difference in thermal expansion
between the sodium outlet pipe 9 and the barrel 3. Such being the case, the sodium
outlet pipe 9 is connected to an upper end opening 41a of the inner shroud 41 by means
of the metal bellows 42.
[0063] Fig. 5 shows a steam generator of a third embodiment according to the present invention.
Fig. 5 shows an arrangement wherein the whole inside area of an inner shroud 51 is
employed as an offtake for sodium. In this modified embodiment, the inner shroud 5
takes a double pipe structure as shown in Fig. 5a in order that the thermal exchange
between the sodium moving on the outside of the inner shroud 51 and the sodium moving
on the inside of the inner shroud 51 is not permit to occur. A gap 52 formed between
the inside pipe and the outside pipe of the inner shroud 51 is filled with an inert
gas.
[0064] The inner shroud 51 has an upper end opening 51a and a - lower end opening 51b. The
sodium flows into the lower end opening 51b of the inner shroud 51 and flows out through
the upper end opening 51a of the inner shroud 51 and the outlet pipe 9. In this case
the inner shroud 51 and the outlet. pipe are integrally formed therewith.
1. A steam generator (1, lA, 1B) comprising: a barrel (3) having an inlet portion
and an outlet portion for a heating medium; a multiplicity of heat transfer tubes
(2) being formed vertically in a helical configuration and being disposed in said
barrel (3); an inner shroud (5, 41, 51) formed a lower end opening (5b, 41b, 51b)
being disposed such as to pass through the central portion of said helical: heat transfer
tubes (2) and supporting said helical heat transfer tubes (2), the lower end opening
(5b, 41b, 51b) being formed said inner shroud (5, 41, 51) so as to the heating medium
flows into said inner shroud (5, 41, 51) through the lower end opening (5b, 41b, 51b);
and an outer shroud (8) being disposed on the outside of said helical heat transfer
tubes (2) and forming a passage for the heating medium between said inner shroud (5,
41, 51) and said outer shroud (8); characterized in that
both the inlet portion and the outlet portion for the heating medium are provided
respectively at the upper portion of said barrel (3), an opening (5a, 41a, 51a) is
formed in the upper end portion of said inner shroud (5, 41, 51) so as to the heating
medium flows out through said upper end opening (5a, 41a, 5la) of said inner shroud
(5, 41, 51), and a region in the vicinity of said inner shroud (5, 41, 51) is filled
with a stagnant heating medium or an inert gas.
2. A steam generator (1, lA, 1B) comprising: a barrel (3) having an inlet portion
and an outlet portion for a heating medium; a multiplicity of heat transfer tubes
(2) being formed vertically in a helical configuration and being disposed in said
barrel (3); an inner shroud (5, 41, 51) formed a lower end opening (5b, 41b, 51b)
being disposed such as to pass through the central portion of said helical heat transfer
tubes (2) and supporting said helical heat transfer tubes (2), the lower end opening
(5b, 41b, 51b) being formed said inner shroud (5, 41, 51) so as to the heating medium
flows into said inner shroud (5, 41, 51) through the lower end opening (5b, 41b, 51b);
an outer shroud (8) being disposed on the outside of said helical heat transfer tubes
(2) and forming a passage for the heating medium between said inner shroud (5, 41,
51) and said outer shroud (8); an inlet pipe (10) being disposed on the inlet portion
of said barrel (3); and an outlet pipe (9) being disposed on the outlet portion of
said barrel (3) characterized in that
both said inlet pipe (10) and said outlet pipe (9) are provided respectively at the
upper portion of said barrel (3), an opening (5a, 41a, 51a) is formed in the upper
end portion of said inner shroud (5, 41, 51), said outlet pipe (9) passes through
said barrel (3) at the outlet portion for the heating medium and also passes through
the upper end opening (5a, 41a, 51a) of said inner shroud (5, 41, 51) so as to the
heating medium flows out through the inside of said outlet pipe (9), and a region
by formed the inside of said inner shroud (4, 41, 51) and the outside of said outlet
pipe (9) is filled with a stagnant heating medium or an inert gas.
3. A steam generator (1, lA, lB) as claimed in claim 2, wherein said outlet pipe (9)
is coaxially provided within said inlet pipe (10).
4. A steam generator (1, lA, 1B) as claimed in claim 2, wherein said outlet pipe (9)
is formed double pipe structure (18) having an inner pipe and an outer pipe, and a
gap (17) formed between the inner pipe and the outer pipe of the double pipe structure
(18) is encapsulated with a thermal insulating material.
5. A steam generator (1, lA, 1B) as claimed in claim 2, wherein a displacement absorption
mechanism (12) is provided on said inlet pipe (9) so as to absorb the difference in
the thermal expansion between said barrel (3) and said inlet pipe (10).
6. A steam generator (1, lA, 1B) as claimed in claim 2, wherein a displacement absorption
mechanism (42) is provided within said barrel (3) so as to absorb the difference in
the thermal expansion between said barrel (3) and said inner shroud (41).
7. A steam generator (l, lA, 1B) as claimed in claim 2, wherein said inner shroud
(51) being formd a double pipe structure so as to prevent the thermal exchange between
the heating medium of the outside of said inner shroud (51) and the heating medium
of the inside of said inner shroud (51), and a gap (52) formed within said inner shroud
(51) is filled with an inert gas.
8. A steam generator (1, lA, 1B) as claimed in claim 7, wherein said inner shroud
(51) and said outlet pipe (9) are integratedly formed therewith.
9. A steam generator (1, lA, 1B) as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the steam generator
(1) is at least one of the selected from a superheater (lA) and an evaporator (lB)
of a liquid metal fast breeder reactor, and the heating medium is a sodium.
10. A steam generator (1, lA, lB) as claimed in claim 9, the sodium moved from an
intermediate heat exchanger (23) flows in via said inlet pipe (10) of the superheater
(lA) through a hot leg pipe (31A) and then flows out said outlet pipe (9) through
a middle leg pipe (32A), and said outlet pipe (9) is communicated with said inlet
pipe (10) of the evaporator (lB) through a cold leg pipe (33A).