US3839159A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
System for concentrating a moderating solution utilized in a pressurized water nuclear power plant
Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp
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Filing: 1971-11-30
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Granted: 1974-10-01
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Expires: 1991-11-30
Abstract
Abstract A system for concentrating a solution of boric acid solution to a predetermined concentration and stripping the radioactive gases from the solution. The system is generally operable so that there is a continuous feed of weak boric acid solution and a continuous discharge of pure water from the system during the concentrating portion of the cycle and the system is operable so that when the boric acid solution reaches a predetermined concentration, the weak acid feed and pure water discharge are shut off, the pure water is recirculated through the system until the boric acid of predetermined concentration is removed to storage tanks. The system has sequentially operated controls which minimize the thermodynamic shock as the system is switched from the recycle portion of the cycle to the distillate discharge portion of the cycle.
Inventors
- 👤 A Dunnavant
- 👤 A Giardina
- 👤 A Vargo
- 👤 J Vota
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 07:30
CPC Classifications
G; G21; G21C; G21C7/00; G21C7/06; G21C7/22; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E30/00; Y02E30/30; Y10; Y10S; Y10S203/00; Y10S203/19
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
308 words
A system for concentrating a moderating solution for a pressurized water nuclear reactor, wherein the solution contains dissolved solids and dissolved and entrained gases, said system comprising: means for preheating the influent solution utilizing a heating medium, means for removing gases from the preheated solution, means for evaporating solvent from the degasified solution utilizing a heating means, a portion of the solvent vapor produced by the evaporating means being supplied to the gas removing means, first condensing means for condensing the evaporated solvent not supplied to the gas removing means, second condensing means for condensing solvent from the gases which are collected from the gas removing means and from the first condensing means, control means responsive to the flow of solvents from the first condensing means for controlling the flow of coolant to the first condensing means, control means responsive to the quantity of condensed solvent in the first condensing means for regulating the flow of condensed solvent therefrom, control means responsive to the quantity of solution in the evaporating means for controlling the flow of solution flowing into the system, means for controlling the pressure in the evaporating means by regulating the flow of heating medium to the evaporating means, control means responsive to the temperature of the solution leaving the preheating means for controlling the quantity of heating media being supplied thereto, said above-mentioned apparatus and controls being cooperatively associated to produce a system for concentrating a moderating solution wherein one portion of the cycle there is a generally continuous flow of influent solution and a continuous flow of effluent solvent and gases, and during another portion of the cycle, there is an effluent flow of the solution having a predetermined concentration and the system is switched from one portion of the cycle to the other with a minimum amount of thermodynamic disturbance in the apparatus.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
308 words
A system for concentrating a moderating solution for a pressurized water nuclear reactor, wherein the solution contains dissolved solids and dissolved and entrained gases, said system comprising: means for preheating the influent solution utilizing a heating medium, means for removing gases from the preheated solution, means for evaporating solvent from the degasified solution utilizing a heating means, a portion of the solvent vapor produced by the evaporating means being supplied to the gas removing means, first condensing means for condensing the evaporated solvent not supplied to the gas removing means, second condensing means for condensing solvent from the gases which are collected from the gas removing means and from the first condensing means, control means responsive to the flow of solvents from the first condensing means for controlling the flow of coolant to the first condensing means, control means responsive to the quantity of condensed solvent in the first condensing means for regulating the flow of condensed solvent therefrom, control means responsive to the quantity of solution in the evaporating means for controlling the flow of solution flowing into the system, means for controlling the pressure in the evaporating means by regulating the flow of heating medium to the evaporating means, control means responsive to the temperature of the solution leaving the preheating means for controlling the quantity of heating media being supplied thereto, said above-mentioned apparatus and controls being cooperatively associated to produce a system for concentrating a moderating solution wherein one portion of the cycle there is a generally continuous flow of influent solution and a continuous flow of effluent solvent and gases, and during another portion of the cycle, there is an effluent flow of the solution having a predetermined concentration and the system is switched from one portion of the cycle to the other with a minimum amount of thermodynamic disturbance in the apparatus.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
33 words
A system as set forth in claim 1 and further comprising means for absorbing the solute being carried over with the evaporated solvent prior to the evaporated solvent entering the first condensing means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
A system as set forth in claim 1 and further comprising means for cooling the effluent solvent flowing from the first condensing means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
48 words
A system as set forth in claim 1 and further comprising control means responsive to the purity of the effluent solvent from the first condensing means for returning the solvent to the system, when the concentration of the dissolved solids in the solution is above a predetermined value.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
A system as set forth in claim 1 and further comprising means for shutting off the flow of effluent gases from said second condensing means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
103 words
A system as set forth in claim 5 and further comprising overriding means for overriding the control means responsive to the temperature of the solution flowing from the preheating means, the control means responsive to the quantity of solution in the evaporating means, and the means for shutting off the flow of effluent gases from the second condensing means, to provide the proper sequence of operation for returning the system from a portion of the cycle in which concentrated solution of the desired concentration is recycled, to a portion of the cycle wherein the solution is being concentrated and distillate is being discharged.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
21 words
A system as set forth in claim 1 and further comprising means for supplying inert gas to the first condensing means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
20 words
A system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the evaporating means comprises means for recirculating and discharging concentrated solution.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
22 words
A system as set forth in claim 1 and further comprising means for discharging the condensed solvent from the first condensing means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
58 words
A system as set forth in claim 1 and further comprising control means responsive to the purity of the condensed solvent being discharged by the first condensing means to recycle the condensed solvent through the system if it is below a predetermined purity and to discharge condensed solvent from the system if it is above a predetermined purity.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
259 words
A system for concentrating a moderating solution for a pressurized water nuclear reactor, wherein the solution contains dissolved solids and dissolved and entrained gases, said system comprising: means for preheating the influent solution utilizing a heating medium, means for removing gases from the preheated solution, means for evaporating solvent from the degasified solution utilizing a heating means, a portion of the solvent vapor produced by the evaporating means being supplied to the gas removing means, means for condensing the solvent vapor not supplied to the gas removing means, control means for controlling the flow of coolant to the condensing means, control means for regulating the flow of condensed solvent from the condensing means, control means responsive to the liquid level in the evaporating means for controlling the flow of solution flowing into the system, means for controlling the evaporating means by regulating the flow of heating medium to the evaporating means, control means responsive to the temperature of the solution leaving the preheating means for controlling the quantity of heating media being supplied thereto, said above-mentioned apparatus and contrOls being cooperatively associated to produce a system for concentrating a moderating solution where in one portion of the cycle there is a generally continuous flow of influent solution and a continuous flow of effluent solvent and gases, and during another portion of the cycle, there is an effluent flow of the solution having a predetermined concentration and the system is switched from one portion of the cycle to the other with a minimum amount of thermodynamic disturbance in the apparatus.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
259 words
A system for concentrating a moderating solution for a pressurized water nuclear reactor, wherein the solution contains dissolved solids and dissolved and entrained gases, said system comprising: means for preheating the influent solution utilizing a heating medium, means for removing gases from the preheated solution, means for evaporating solvent from the degasified solution utilizing a heating means, a portion of the solvent vapor produced by the evaporating means being supplied to the gas removing means, means for condensing the solvent vapor not supplied to the gas removing means, control means for controlling the flow of coolant to the condensing means, control means for regulating the flow of condensed solvent from the condensing means, control means responsive to the liquid level in the evaporating means for controlling the flow of solution flowing into the system, means for controlling the evaporating means by regulating the flow of heating medium to the evaporating means, control means responsive to the temperature of the solution leaving the preheating means for controlling the quantity of heating media being supplied thereto, said above-mentioned apparatus and contrOls being cooperatively associated to produce a system for concentrating a moderating solution where in one portion of the cycle there is a generally continuous flow of influent solution and a continuous flow of effluent solvent and gases, and during another portion of the cycle, there is an effluent flow of the solution having a predetermined concentration and the system is switched from one portion of the cycle to the other with a minimum amount of thermodynamic disturbance in the apparatus.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
31 words
A system as set forth in claim 11 and further comprising means for absorbing solute being carried over with the evaporated solvent prior to the evaporated solvent entering the condensing means.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
22 words
A system as set forth in claim 11 and further comprising means for cooling the effluent solvent flowing from the condensing means.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
47 words
A system as set forth in claim 11 and further comprising control means responsive to the purity of the effluent solvent from the condensing means for returning the solvent to the system, when the concentration of the dissolved solids in said solvent is above a predetermined value.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
20 words
A system as set forth in claim 11, wherein the evaporating means comprises means for recirculating and discharging concentrated solution.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
21 words
A system as set forth in claim 11 and further comprising means for discharging the condensed solvent from the condensing means.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
56 words
A system as set forth in claim 11 and further comprising control means responsive to the purity of the condensed solvent being discharged by the condensing means to recycle the condensed solvent through the system if it is below a predetermined purity and to discharge solvent from the system if it is above a predetermined purity.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-09-30 | 1978-04-01 | 1978-10-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-09-30 | 1982-04-01 | 1982-10-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-09-30 | 1986-04-01 | 1986-10-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |