Pressurizer

The pressurizer is a special container in the reactor coolant system of a pressurized water reactor. Its main task is the reactor cooling circuit impress the contemporary design pressure and compensate for temperature-induced variations in volume (sufficient supply of coolant for various transients, such as full-load reactor scram ). The connection is via the so-called volume compensation cable to one of the loops.

The pressurizer is the only place in the reactor coolant system, prevails at the operationally boiling state, that is, there are both water vapor before.

Construction

Heaters

At the bottom of the pressurizer heaters are located. These are used to generate the steam cushion in different heat settings. Furthermore, here the lead from the volume compensation system ( volume equalization line ) is attached.

Spray system

In the top of the pressurizer spray lines and a Hilfssprühleitung run out of the volume control system. Each of these lines opens inside the pressurizer in a spray box with full cone nozzles.

For the reduction in pressure coolant is injected through the nozzles. A part of these sprays is permanently in operation, to allow a boric acid concentration of both alignment and preheating of the pipeline. As a result, the temperature and hence the pressure would be lowered to a part of the heating ( primary heating) to be operated continuously at the same time.

Sprühhemd

In order to prevent fatigue of the container inner wall at the injection of the cold fluid in the hot reservoir has a pressure reservoir via a so-called Sprühhemd. This refers to a hollow metal cylinder, which is attached in a distance from the container inner wall and the inner wall of the pressurizer prevents direct contact of the spray medium.

Safety valves / relief valves

Like almost every pressure vessel must be protected and the pressurizer against undue pressures. This is done through the pressurizer safety valves that are mounted on top of the pressurizer and of discharging steam in the pressurizer blow off. Parallel to the safety valves shut off and there is a blow-off valve, can be blown off the pressurizer via the steam manually measure.

Due to its safety significance of the level of the pressurizer during operation must be constantly monitored. Both too high and too low a level, criteria for a reactor scram.