Model steam generator having an improved feedwater system
First Claim
1. A model steam generator for monitoring the condition of the heat exchange tubes within a full-scale steam generator which converts feedwater into steam, comprising a boiler vessel, and a feedwater system for supplying feedwater from one of at least two sources to the boiler vessel including a first conduit which is fluidly connected between the boiler vessel and the feedwater of the full-scale steam generator via a first valve, a feedwater reservoir, and a second conduit which is fluidly connected between the boiler vessel and the feedwater reservoir by way of a second valve, so that said feedwater from the full-scale steam generator or the reservoir may be selectively introduced into the model steam generator via said first and second valves, respectively, in order to compare the corrosive effects of different feedwaters.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A model steam generator including an improved feedwater system for monitoring the conditions of the heat exchange tubes within a nuclear steam generator is disclosed herein. The feedwater system generally comprises a first conduit fluidly connected between the boiler vessel of the model steam generator and the feedwater of the nuclear steam generator via a first valve, and a second conduit which is fluidly connected between this boiler vessel and a feedwater reservoir by way of a second valve. The feedwater reservoir is in turn connected to a source of demineralized, deaerated water by means of a third conduit having a third valve. This reservoir is further fluidly connected to the feedwater of the nuclear steam generator by means of a fourth conduit having a fourth valve. The improved feedwater system of the invention gives the operator three running options. First, he may run the model steam generator directly off the feedwater used in the nuclear steam generator. Second, he may fill the reservoir with feedwater used in the nuclear steam generator and mix anti-corrosive or cleaning additives into this feedwater before introducing it into the model steam generator in order to test their efficacy. Finally, if anti-corrosive or cleaning additives are already in use in the nuclear steam generator, he may fill the reservoir with demineralized, deaerated water and test alternative additives. The improved feedwater system also includes a means for maintaining a turbulent flow through the feedwater inlet conduit so that particulate contaminants in the feedwater will not have an opportunity to settle out before the feedwater is introduced into the model steam generator.
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Citations
20 Claims
- 1. A model steam generator for monitoring the condition of the heat exchange tubes within a full-scale steam generator which converts feedwater into steam, comprising a boiler vessel, and a feedwater system for supplying feedwater from one of at least two sources to the boiler vessel including a first conduit which is fluidly connected between the boiler vessel and the feedwater of the full-scale steam generator via a first valve, a feedwater reservoir, and a second conduit which is fluidly connected between the boiler vessel and the feedwater reservoir by way of a second valve, so that said feedwater from the full-scale steam generator or the reservoir may be selectively introduced into the model steam generator via said first and second valves, respectively, in order to compare the corrosive effects of different feedwaters.
- 4. A model steam generator for monitoring the condition of the heat exchange tubes within a full-scale steam generator which converts feedwater into steam, comprising a boiler vessel and a feedwater system for supplying feedwater from at least two sources to the boiler vessel including a first conduit fluidly connected between the boiler vessel and the feedwater of the full-scale steam generator which includes a first valve for controlling the flow of full-scale steam generator feedwater into the boiler vessel, a feedwater reservoir, and a second conduit fluidly connected between the feedwater reservoir and a point on the first conduit between said first valve and said boiler vessel via a second valve, so that feedwater from the full-scale steam generator or the reservoir may be selectively introduced into the model steam generator via said first and second valves, respectively, in order to compare the corrosive effects of different feedwaters.
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12. A model steam generator for monitoring the condition of the heat exchange tubes within a full-scale steam generator which converts feedwater into steam, comprising a boiler vessel, and a feedwater system for supplying feedwater to the boiler vessel including a first conduit which is fluidly connected between the boiler vessel and the feedwater of the full-scale steam generator via a first valve, and a second conduit which is fluidly connected between the boiler vessel and a feedwater reservoir by way of a second valve, whereby said first and second valves regulate the flow of feedwater into the boiler from said full-scale steam generator feedwater and said feedwater reservoir, respectively, said first conduit having first and second pipes of larger and smaller cross-sectional areas, respectively, wherein the flow of feedwater from the full-scale steam generator to the boiler vessel is made exclusively through the first pipe at high flow rates, and exclusively through the second pipe at low flow rates, in order to maintain a sufficiently turbulent flow in the first conduit throughout both high and low flow rates to prevent particulate matter in the feedwater from the full-scale steam generator from settling out en route to the boiler vessel.
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13. A model steam generator for monitoring the condition of the heat exchange tubes within a full-scale steam generator which converts feedwater into steam, comprising a boiler vessel, and a feedwater system for supplying feedwater to the boiler vessel including a first conduit which is fluidly connected between the boiler vessel and the feedwater of the full-scale steam generator via a first valve, and a second conduit which is fluidly connected between the boiler vessel and a feedwater reservoir by way of a second valve, whereby said first and second valves regulate the flow of feedwater into the boiler from said full-scale steam generator feedwater and said feedwater reservoir, respectively, said first conduit having first and second pipes of substantially equal cross-sectional areas, wherein the flow of feedwater from the full-scale steam generator to the boiler vessel is made exclusively through one of the pipes at low flow rates, and both of the pipes at high flow rates, in order to maintain a sufficiently turbulent flow in the first conduit to prevent particulate matter in the feedwater from the full-scale steam generator from settling out en route to the boiler vessel.
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14. A model steam generator for monitoring the condition of the heat exchange tubes within a full-scale steam generator which converts feedwater into steam comprising a boiler vessel, and a feedwater system for supplying feedwater to the boiler vessel including a first conduit which is fluidly connected between the boiler vessel and the feedwater of the full-scale steam generator via a first valve, and a second conduit which is fluidly connected between the boiler vessel and a feedwater reservoir by way of a second valve, whereby said first and second valves regulate the flow of feedwater into the boiler from said full-scale steam generator feedwater and said feedwater reservoir, respectively, and wherein said first conduit carries feedwater at a substantially constant rate which is high enough to create sufficient turbulence in the conduit to prevent particulate matter in the feedwater from the full-scale steam generator from settling out en route to the boiler vessel, and includes means for discharging any feedwater it carries which is in excess of the feedwater demanded by the boiler vessel.
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15. A model steam generator for monitoring the condition of the heat exchange tubes within a full-scale steam generator which converts feedwater into steam, comprising a boiler vessel, and a feedwater system for supplying feedwater to the boiler vessel including a first conduit which is fluidly connected between the boiler vessel and the feedwater of the full-scale steam generator via a first valve, and a second conduit which is fluidly connected between the boiler vessel and a feedwater reservoir by way of a second valve, whereby said first and second valves regulate the flow of feedwater into the boiler from said full-scale steam generator feedwater and said feedwater reservoir, respectively, and further including a discharge vessel fluidly connected to the first conduit for receiving any feedwater it carries which is in excess of the feedwater demanded by the boiler vessel.
- 16. A model steam generator for monitoring the condition of heat exchange tubes within a full-scale steam generator which converts feedwater into steam, comprising a boiler vessel, and a feedwater system for supplying feedwater to the boiler vessel including a first conduit fluidly connected between the boiler vessel and the feedwater of the full-scale steam generator wherein said first conduit includes a first valve, and means for maintaining a turbulent flow of feedwater in the conduit over a range of flow rates in order that particulate matter entrained in the feedwater will remain entrained as the feedwater flows into the boiler vessel, and a second conduit fluidly connected between a feedwater reservoir and a point on the first conduit between said boiler vessel and the first valve by way of a second valve, whereby said first and second valves selectively control the flow of feedwater into the boiler vessel from the full-scale steam generator and the reservoir, respectively.
Specification