Apparatuses for steam separation, and nuclear boiling water reactors including the same

Abstract

According to at least some example embodiments, a dome collector separation stage includes an inner side wall that defines an inner channel; and an outer side wall that, together with the inner side wall, defines an outer channel, the inner channel being configured to receive a two-phase flow stream (FS) of water and steam, and pass the two-phase FS to the outer channel via inlets included in the inner side wall, the outer channel being configured to separate at least some water from the two-phase FS, and pass moisture-reduced steam out of the steam separator stage via outlets included in the outer side wall.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A steam separator comprising:
 a skirt;   a barrel inside the skirt;   a first separator stage; and   a second separator stage adjacent to the first separator stage,   the first separator stage including a first pick-off ring that protrudes from the skirt past the barrel towards an interior of the steam separator,   the second separator stage including an inner surface which has a diameter that gradually increases from a first diameter value at a first portion of the second separator stage to a second diameter value at a second portion of the second separator stage.   
     
     
         2 . The steam separator of  claim 1  wherein,
 the first portion of the second separator stage is a portion of the second separator stage adjacent to the first pick-off ring of the first separator stage, and 
 the second portion of the second separator stage is a portion of the second separator located farther away from the first pick-off ring of the first separator stage than the first portion. 
 
     
     
         3 . The steam separator of  claim 2  wherein,
 the first diameter value is equal to a diameter value of an inner surface of the first pick-off ring. 
 
     
     
         4 . The steam separator of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a standpipe connected to the first separator stage, 
 wherein the first separator stage further includes turning vanes, 
 the standpipe being connected to an end of the first separator stage opposite an end of the first separator stage at which the first pick-off ring is located. 
 
     
     
         5 . A nuclear boiling water reactor comprising:
 a reactor pressure vessel;   a core in the reactor pressure vessel; and   one or more steam separators according to  claim 1  located above the reactor core.