Natural circulation
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Natural circulation refers to the ability of a fluid in a system to circulate continuously, with gravity and changes in heat energy (temperature) being the only driving force.
A fluid system designed for natural circulation will have a heat source and a heat sink. Each of these is in contact with some of the fluid in the system, but not all of it. The heat source is positioned lower than the heat sink.
Most materials that are fluid at common temperatures expand when they are heated, becoming less dense. Correspondingly, they become denser when they are cooled. At the heat source of a system of natural circulation, the heated fluid becomes lighter than the fluid surrounding it, and thus rises. At the heat sink, the nearby fluid becomes denser as it cools, and is drawn downward by gravity. Together, these effects create a flow of fluid from the heat source to the heat sink and back again.
Systems of natural circulation include tornadoes and other weather systems, ocean currents, and household ventilation.
In a nuclear reactor, natural circulation can be a design criterion. It is achieved by reducing turbulence and friction in the fluid flow (that is, minimizing head loss), and by providing a way to remove any inoperative pumps from the fluid path. Also, the reactor (as the heat source) must be physically lower than the steam generators or turbines (the heat sink). In this way, natural circulation will ensure that the fluid will continue to flow as long as the reactor is hotter than the heat sink, even when power cannot be supplied to the pumps.
Notable examples are the S5G [1][2][3] and S8G [4][5][6] United States Naval reactors, which were designed to operate at a significant fraction of full power under natural circulation, quieting those propulsion plants. The S6G reactor could not operate at power under natural circulation, but could use it to maintain emergency cooling while shut down.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ Technical Innovations of the Submarine Force. Chief of Naval Operations Submarine Warfare Division. Retrieved on 2006-03-12.
- ^ Appendix C, Attachment to NR:IBO-05/023, Evaluation of Naval Reactors Facility Radioactive Waste Disposed of at the Radioactive Waste Management Complex (PDF). Retrieved on 2006-03-12.
- ^ SSN-671 Narwhal. Globalsecurity.org. Retrieved on 2006-3-12.
- ^ Энциклопедия кораблей /Ракетные ПЛ /Огайо (Russian). Retrieved on 2006-03-12.
- ^ The Ohio, US Navy's nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine. Retrieved on 2006-03-12.
- ^ Members-only feature, registration required. Retrieved on 2006-03-12.
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