Gas Stripper Structured Packing Nuclear Coolant Degasification

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional gas strippers face challenges in achieving a balance between energy consumption and cost while ensuring maximum contact between liquid and vapor phases, particularly in nuclear power plants where high degasification factors are needed to remove radioactive gases like Xenon and Krypton from coolant.

Innovation Solution

The improved gas stripper system includes a gas stripper column with a distributor member for even coolant distribution, a re-boiler for phase conversion, and a separation member with structured packing for enhanced contact, along with a condenser arrangement for efficient separation of non-condensable gases, optimizing contact and separation efficiency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Duration of action of moving object

If sieve trays are used to increase contact time between liquid and gas streams, then the contact time is improved, but the contact area becomes undefined and changes with flow regime and steam velocity

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontact timeVSAvoidcontact area definition

Core Design Contradiction:

Duration of action of moving objectVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses structured packing materials with defined porosity and surface area characteristics to provide a consistent contact interface between liquid and gas phases. This structured packing maintains defined contact area while ensuring adequate contact time, resolving the contradiction between indefinite contact area in sieve trays and the need for precise mass transfer control.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #31Porous materials

2Productivity

If the gas stripper is designed to achieve maximum contact between liquid and vapor phases, then degasification efficiency is improved, but energy consumption and costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedegasification efficiencyVSAvoidenergy consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent optimizes operating parameters including liquid flow rate, vapor velocity, and temperature profiles to achieve maximum degasification efficiency at minimal energy cost. By carefully controlling these parameters and using structured packing with optimal surface area to volume ratio, the system achieves high contact efficiency without excessive energy input.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses a multi-stage configuration where partial vaporization occurs in the reboiler section and additional mass transfer occurs in the structured packing section. This partial action approach distributes the energy requirement across different zones, achieving overall high efficiency without requiring excessive energy input in a single stage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Productivity

If structured packing is used to enable maximum contact between liquid and gaseous phases, then mass transfer efficiency is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemass transfer efficiencyVSAvoidcolumn internal structure

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The gas stripper column is divided into distinct functional sections: a reboiler section for vapor generation and a structured packing section for mass transfer. This segmentation allows each section to be optimized independently, with the structured packing providing high efficiency contact while the reboiler handles the energy-intensive phase change, thereby managing overall system complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The system achieves maximum contact between liquid and vapor phases, ensuring high degasification efficiency while being economical and easy to manufacture, effectively removing radioactive gases like Xenon and Krypton from the coolant.

Implementation Method 1

the re-boiler member is configured along the bottom of the gas stripper column and adapted to heat the primary coolant to a gaseous phase

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPhase change (heating): Phase Change

Implementation Method 2

The separation member includes a structured packing so as to enable maximum contact of the liquid phased primary coolant with the gaseous phased primary coolant to be dissolved to obtain vapour phased thereof

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAbsorption (physical): Absorption (physical)

Implementation Method 3

The condenser arrangement is configured to the gas stripper column to receive and condense the vapour phased primary coolant so as to enable non-condensable gases to be discharged and return of the condensate to the gas stripper column

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCondensation: Condensation

Data Source

PatentUS10688413B2Gas stripper system

Publication Date: 2020.06.23 ARABELLE SOLUTIONS FRANCE

AI summary

A gas stripper system for purification of a primary coolant contaminated in cooling a nuclear reactor is provided. The gas stripper system includes a gas stripper column and a condenser arrangement. The column is adapted to receive the liquid phased contaminated primary coolant. The column defines top, bottom and middle sections and includes a distributor member, a re-boiler member and a separation member disposed therealong. The distributor member, a re-boiler member and a separation member with structured packing are configured such that maximum contact between the liquid phased primary coolant and gaseous phased primary coolant is made. Moreover, the condenser arrangement is configured to the gas stripper column to receive and condense the vapour phased primary coolant.