Microclimate in a heat sink of a nuclear power plant and its performance

Summary

The results of assessing the interaction of a heat sink at a nuclear power plant with the environment are presented. The impact of the microclimate changes on the performance of the heat sink is substantiated. Heat emissions into the environment from evaporation, convective and radiant heat fluxes as well as climatic indicators: temperature and pressure of saturated steams, wind speed (at the weather cock height), total cloud cover, aggregate values of average monthly and average annual precipitation, number of foggy days were considered as basic performance indicators. Routine observation series for 20 years (1990–2010) taken from the hydrometeorological survey technical reports at the Smolensk weather station located at the distance of 144 km from the Smolensk nuclear power plant as well at the Ekimovichi meteorological station (7 km from the Smolensk nuclear power plant) and at the meteorological station of the Smolensk nuclear power plant made the basis of the analyzed data base. The assessment of the performance indicators of the heat sink was carried out according to the nuclear power plant process design (RD 153-34.2-21.144-2003). For the given geotechnical facilities three options of the conditions determined by the meteorological data obtained at the meteorological stations of the Smolensk nuclear power plant, Ekimovichi and Smolensk were considered. The impact of the microclimate was determined by the difference in the heat loss parameters: heat release into the environment from evaporation and convective heat exchange. The analysis of the calculations of the seasonal thermal conditions of the heat sink showed their sensitivity to the microclimate changes and seasonal behavior; this fact shall be taken into consideration when undertaking commitments to increase the electric power generation.

Key words

nuclear power plant , heat sink , convective and radiant heat exchange , evaporation , hydrometeorological survey