Increasing nuclear safety and operational reliability by upgrading the charging pump mechanical sealing system

摘要

The operating span for centrifugal pumps in PWRs, which are used in the combined role of high head safety injection service as well as chemical volume and control service, is quite wide. This large difference in operating conditions presents significant challenges to the pump and its supporting hardware, such as the mechanical seals. Besides large differences in flow, the pump liquid itself, typically cold, borated make-up water with dissolved hydrogen, presents other challenges which can aggravate pump operation.