Air Cooling Reactor: Max Wattage for Sensible Heatsink

In summary, the conversation discusses the potential of using air cooled condensers for nuclear reactors, specifically in situations where access to water is limited. The largest natural draft dry cooling system is mentioned as an example, and the idea of using a smaller unit for mobile applications on land without access to water is brought up. The possibility of using an air cooled modular reactor to power heavy equipment is also discussed, with considerations for shielding and containment. The size of gas turbines and diesel electric locomotives are mentioned as a comparison. Overall, the conversation explores the feasibility and limitations of using air cooled condensers for nuclear reactors.
  • #1
aquitaine
30
9
For a sensible air cooled heatsink, what is the maximum wattage a nuclear reactor could be?
 
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  • #2
Apparently they can be quite large. Google 'air cooled condenser'. One hit shows "World's largest natural draft dry cooling system, 6 x 690 MW kendal power station, south africa"

Seems to me a smaller unit could be designed to condense the steam relief flow and send it back to the (turbine driven) auxiliary feedwater pump for post-trip decay heat removal. If they're really natural draft this could even work indefinitely during a station blackout, without sending river or ocean water into your SGs.
 
  • #3
Interesting, so what about for a mobile application on land, where access to water is nonexistent?
 
  • #4
aquitaine said:
Interesting, so what about for a mobile application on land, where access to water is nonexistent?
I believe the Palo Verde units use air cooled condensers. They are in the middle of the desert in Arizona, west of Phoenix. Each unit is 3800 MWt, and they have to reject ~ 0.66 of the thermal energy directly to the environment.
 
  • #5
So for example a modular reactor of, say, 40 MW needs a heat exchanger capable of sinking 26.4 MW thermal? In an air cooled solution that would seem to be too large to fit on a large semi truck or something.

EDIT: Is is possible to use an air cooled modular reactor to power something like a piece of heavy earthmoving equipment?
 
Last edited:
  • #6
There is the shielding and containment as well.

Consider the size of a 40 MW gas turbine, and whether or not that would be mobile. Or consider the size of a 4400 HP (3.3 MW) diesel electric locomotive.
 
  • #7
Astronuc said:
I believe the Palo Verde units use air cooled condensers. They are in the middle of the desert in Arizona, west of Phoenix...

Palo Verde has 'regular' condensers rejecting heat via wet (forced draft) cooling towers. The make-up to the towers is waste water from Phoenix, piped out to the site.
 
  • #8
There is the shielding and containment as well.

Consider the size of a 40 MW gas turbine, and whether or not that would be mobile. Or consider the size of a 4400 HP (3.3 MW) diesel electric locomotive.


Well clearly the power output wouldn't be 40 MW, more like 1/10th of that at best.
 

Related to Air Cooling Reactor: Max Wattage for Sensible Heatsink

1. What is an air cooling reactor?

An air cooling reactor is a type of heat exchanger that uses air as the cooling medium to remove heat from a system or process. It typically consists of a fan, a heatsink, and a set of fins to increase the surface area for heat dissipation.

2. How does an air cooling reactor work?

An air cooling reactor works by using the fan to blow air over the heatsink, which is in direct contact with the hot component or system. The heatsink absorbs the heat and transfers it to the fins, where the increased surface area allows for more efficient heat dissipation into the surrounding air.

3. What is the max wattage for a sensible heatsink in an air cooling reactor?

The maximum wattage for a sensible heatsink in an air cooling reactor depends on several factors such as the size and design of the heatsink, the airflow rate, and the ambient temperature. Generally, a well-designed air cooling reactor can handle wattages ranging from 100-500 watts.

4. What are the advantages of using an air cooling reactor?

One of the main advantages of using an air cooling reactor is its simplicity and cost-effectiveness compared to other cooling methods such as liquid cooling. It also does not require any additional power sources or maintenance, making it a reliable and low-maintenance option for cooling systems.

5. Are there any limitations to using an air cooling reactor?

Yes, there are some limitations to using an air cooling reactor. The main limitation is its lower cooling capacity compared to other methods such as liquid cooling. This makes it unsuitable for high-power systems that generate a lot of heat. In addition, air cooling may not be as effective in hot and humid environments where the ambient temperature is already high.

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