REACTOR COOLANT PUMP

Reactor coolant pump (RCP) is the main pumps that circulate the reactor coolant through the core, loop piping and steam generators. RCP circulates reactor coolant to remove heat from the reactor core at a constant flow rate. Reactor coolant piping interconnects the reactor vessel, steam generator and reactor coolant pump in a circulating loop configuration. The average design flow for reactor coolant pump as the one below ranges up to 100000 gallons per minute.

AP1000 Reactor Coolant Pump

As shown above is a AP1000 reactor coolant pump from Curtiss-Wright Flow Control. For each Generation III AP1000 reactor will employs four reactor coolant pump. AP1000 reactor coolant pump is based on technology that is currently operating in other power plant applications. Major design philosophy:

• design philosophy is the same as utilized on all Electro-Mechanical Division (EMD) canned motor pump designs
• stainless steel cans protect the motor rotor and stator from operating fluid
• no shaft seals, water lubricated bearings operated with no wear.

Some additional features:

• 60 year life with no maintenance
• flywheels to provide inertia based on plant coast-down requirements
• one of the largest canned motor pumps designed and manufactured by EMD.

Another type of reactor coolant pump is RCP Model 100A, used by Tomari 3912MW Nuclear Power Plant in Japan. Specs not provided.

Reactor Coolant Pump Model 100A