Seismic analysis of a reactor coolant pump by the response spectrum method

Current nuclear steam supply systems (NSSS) are designed to remove the heat of fission by circulating coolant in closed loops from the reactor. For water reactors, this prime function is designated to the reactor coolant pump (RCP). The Westinghouse Type 93A RCP is analyzed for seismic response. Briefly described, this RCP is a vertical, single-stage, centrifugal pump designed to move 90 000 gpm (568 m3/sec) of water and driven by a 6000 hp motor for use in the PWR primary system. The RCP assembly is generally axisymmetric and is modeled using three-dimensional finite elements of the types normally found in general-purpose computer programs such as ANSYS or NASTRAN. The seismic analysis is performed by the response spectrum method in ANSYS, with seismic velocity as the input excitation parameter. This paper assesses the effects of a given seismic excitation on the overall structural integrity of an RCP. (Auth.)