Nuclear island

Optimizing processes for nuclear islands

Alfa Laval has a proven track record of more than 50 years of experience in supplying expertise, equipment and services to nuclear power plants and nuclear island systems around the world. Alfa Laval offers trustworthy, proven solutions for heating, cooling, cleaning and separating fluids and gases in critical nuclear island processes.

Here is a selection of nuclear island sub-applications supported by Alfa Laval:

Closed-loop cooling

Closed-loop cooling is the preferred way of cooling key processes in petrochemical plants, refineries, power plants and other heavy-duty industrial environments.

Closed-loop cooling is safe, reliable, effective and harmless to the environment. And Alfa Laval’s wide range of plate heat exchangers and filters make your system flexible, cost-efficient and long-lasting.

Diesel generators auxiliaries

Diesel generators are used in nuclear power plants for emergency requirements when the normal power supply from the grid is not accessible, such as when an accident occurs. The diesel generator is responsible for providing critical power supply to most important active safety systems as well as to the reactor control system. To insure the proper oil temperature and purity, diesel and lubricating oil must be treated before use in the diesel generator. Jacket water transfers the heat from the engine and to the environment.

Emergency and residual heat removal

This important service safety system ensures reliable heat removal from the primary circuit to the closed-loop cooling water system. It is used in case of emergency or during normal shutdown operations, removing residual heat when the reactor has stopped and the normal circulation of primary water cannot be arranged such as when refueling.

Hydrogen burning system

Nuclear fission reaction in the water creates a certain amount of hydrogen, which in large quantities may be subject to explosion. The removal of hydrogen from the primary circuit through incineration by means of a hydrogen burning system ensures the safe and reliable operation of the primary circuit.

Spent fuel cooling

This important service safety system provides the continuous heat removal from the spent fuel pond water where all used fuel assemblies are stored after being in operation in the reactor core. The fuel assemblies continue to generate heat even after being removed from the reactor and the lack of cooling of the spent fuel water can lead to overheating and damage of the fuel assembly as well as fuel pond contamination.

Pump oil cooling and cleaning

Each pump in the nuclear island, whether it is the main pump or any other service pump, has oil for the bearings lubrication. This oil is heated and takes on impurities of different nature during the lubrication process. The heat destroys the composition of the oil and decreases its ability to lubricate the bearings. The purpose of the oil cooling and cleaning system is to maintain the quality and temperature of the oil according to specifications.

Steam generator blow down

This system provides cooling of the water on the secondary side of the steam generator that has blown down from the bottom of the vessel. It maintains the cleanliness of the water and helps maintain the water quality required on the secondary side.

Make-up water treatment

The water that circulates in the primary circuit must meet certain specifications in terms of quality, purity, pH value and other parameters. The water treatment system maintains the quality of the water according to specifications and ensures the quality doesn’t deteriorate over time. The system prepares new feed water to the primary circuit in order to ensure that the amount of water circulating within it is maintained.