RC- Reactor Coolant System Flashcards
What are the three main purposes of the RCS?
transfer thermal energy to the S/G
secondary barrier to the release of fission products
provide core cooling during all normal plant conditions
How does the RCS interface with the CEDMCS system?
CEDMCS controls the direction, rate, and duration of CEA’s
also controls the magnetic jack coils to CEDM’s
Can CEA motion be controlled automatically or manually?
both
How does the RCS interface with the RI (Fixed in-core instrumentation system, or FICS)?
measures neutron flux,
coolant temp. in 61 locations
monitors core characteristics to assure we do not exceed allowable limits
In the RCS, what does the RI system control?
nothing. it only collects data
How does the RCS interface with the CH system?
maintains pressurizer level,
chemistry control,
boron concentration
provides RCP seal injection
collects RCS discharges
supplies aux spray to pressurizer when normal spray path unavailable
purifies RCS
What discharges from the RCS does the CH system collect?
drainage for maintenance
RCP seal bleed off
Primary safety valve discharge
identified leakage
How does the RCS interface with the NC system?
intermediate barrier between RCS and the PW system
provides cooling to the RCP motor air cooler, lube oil cooler, thrust bearing lube oil cooler, and seal coolers
How does the RCS interface with the SI system?
emergency core cooling and boron injection for reactor shutdown
long and short term cooling
When does SDC provide cooling for the reactor?
When the S/G’s are unavailable
When does shutdown cooling provide long term cooling?
after a LOCA
How does the RCS interface with the NA system?
powers reactor coolant pumps
How does the RCS interface with the IA system?
supplies control air to the pressurizer spray valves, controlled bleed-off containment isolation valves, and RDT bleed-off isolation valves
How does the RCS interface with the SG (main steam) and FW (feed water) systems?
remove heat from RCS
How does the RCS interface with the SS (primary sampling) system?
samples PCS loop 1 hot leg, surge line, and pressurizer steam space
used for chemistry and boron control
How does the RCS interface with the SE (Ex-core neutron monitoring)system?
monitors neutron flux from detectors outside the vessel
How does the RCS interface with the reactor vessel level monitoring system (RVLMS)/QSPDS (SH)?
provides reliable (class) indication of the vessel level online and during accidents
What is the purpose of the reactor vessel?
contains the core and vessel internals
directs flow of coolant through the core
part of RCS pressure boundary to prevent fission product release
What are the internals of the reactor vessel?
core support barrel assembly and the upper guide structure assembly
In the reactor vessel, what allows for radial and axial expansion of the core?
the core support barrel assembly
What components make up the core support barrel assembly?
Core support barrel
lower support structure and instrument nozzle assembly
core shroud assembly
In the reactor vessel, what supports the upper ends of the fuel assemblies and protects the CEAs from coolant cross flow?
the upper guide structure assembly
What components make up the upper guide structure assembly?
CEA shroud assembly
upper guide structure support barrel
What is the main flow path of the coolant within the reactor vessel?
through inlet nozzles, down between vessel wall and core barrel, through flow skirt section and into lower plenum, up through core to outlet region, through CEA shroud tubes and through outlet nozzles
In the reactor vessel, what purpose does the core bypass flow serve?
prevents stagnation of water in low flow areas
keeps primary coolant below saturation temp
removes gamma radiation heat from core support barrel
What do the surveillance capsule assemblies do?
monitor radiation induced changes in vessel materials
How many CEA’s are in the core?
89 total
What are the three types of CEAs and how many are there of each?
5 regulating groups (1, 2, 3, 4, 5)
2 shut down groups (A and B)
2 part strength groups (P1 and P2)
What are CEA pellets made of?
Boron Carbide
There are 48 of which CEAs?
12 finger full strength
There are 28 of which CEA’s?
four finger full strength
There are 13 of which CEA’s?
four finger part strength
How many Fuel assemblies do the 12 finger CEAs interact with?
5
How many fuel assemblies do the four finger CEAs interact with?
1
Which type of CEA do the shutdown banks A and B use?
12 finger only
Which type of CEA do the regulating groups use?
12 and 4 finger
What are the major components of the fuel assemblies?
fuel spacer grids
upper end fitting
hold down plate
lower end fitting
guide tubes
fuel rods
describe the construction of a fuel rod
filled with uranium pellets with a compression spring and spacer disks at each end of a zirconium alloy tube seal welded with end caps and pressurized with helium
Why are fuel rods pressurized with helium?
improve thermal conductivity of pellet to clad gap
prevent clad collapse
Why are the fuel pellets “dished” at the ends?
account for thermal expansion and fuel swelling
What maintains the RCS in a sub-cooled condition?
the pressurizer
What acts as a surge volume to minimize pressure changes during load transients?
pressurizer