Habitability Area Air Recirculation Using Upper and Lower Plenums
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing nuclear reactor facility habitability area air filtration systems are cumbersome, expensive, and prone to safety issues due to the need for large pressurized air storage systems and external air handling units, which can allow radioactive and toxic contaminants to infiltrate during emergencies.
Innovation Solution
A system that uses an internal recirculation air handling unit within the habitability area, eliminating the need for external ductwork by creating a recirculation air flow between upper and lower plenums, and includes redundant units and a chilled coolant thermal storage tank for temperature control, ensuring safe and clean air without external air infiltration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If external air handling units and ductwork are used to circulate air within the habitability area, then air conditioning and circulation can be achieved, but the risk of radioactive and toxic contaminant infiltration increases and system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The air handling units are extracted from external locations and relocated to be positioned within the habitability area itself. This eliminates the need for ductwork that penetrates containment boundaries, thereby removing the infiltration pathway for radioactive and toxic contaminants while maintaining air conditioning functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
A plenum system acts as an intermediary between the air handling units and the occupied space. The plenum distributes conditioned air through registers in the floor and collects return air through vents in the ceiling, providing a contamination-free air distribution mechanism that eliminates the need for external ductwork.
2Reliability
If pressurized air storage systems are implemented to provide clean air during emergencies, then safe air supply is ensured, but system complexity and installation cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The air handling units are designed to be self-contained within the habitability area, drawing return air from the plenum and recirculating it after filtration. This eliminates the need for external pressurized air storage systems, complex piping, and associated control systems, while maintaining reliable safe air supply during emergencies.
Solution Approach 2:
The same air handling units positioned within the habitability area serve dual functions: providing air conditioning during normal operation and supplying clean air during emergencies. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate emergency air storage systems and their associated complexity.
3Ease of manufacture
If air handling units are positioned externally to the habitability area, then equipment separation is achieved, but extensive ductwork installation is required
Solution Approach 1:
The air handling units are extracted from external equipment rooms and repositioned within the habitability area. This eliminates the need for extensive ductwork that would connect external equipment to interior spaces, significantly reducing installation complexity and eliminating contamination pathways.
Solution Approach 2:
The air distribution system transitions from three-dimensional ductwork routing through walls and ceilings to a two-dimensional plenum system that utilizes the overhead and floor spaces within the habitability area itself, eliminating the need for penetrating ductwork.
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
This solution provides a safe, efficient, and cost-effective air filtration and conditioning system that maintains clean air within the habitability area during normal and emergency conditions, preventing radioactive and toxic contaminant infiltration and reducing maintenance complexities.
Implementation Method 1
a fan operable to generate a forced air flow through the respective recirculation air handling unit by drawing air in from the upper plenum through the respective air inlet and forcing air out into the lower plenum through the respective air outlet
Implementation Method 2
a chilled coolant thermal storage tank located in a room separate from the habitability area and fluidly connected to each of the recirculation air handling units. The chilled coolant thermal storage tank can provided chilled coolant to the recirculation air handling units for cooling the recirculation air flow generated by the respective recirculation air handling unit.
Data Source
AI summary
A system for circulating and conditioning air within a nuclear reactor habitability area is provided. The system may include an upper plenum formed between a lowered ceiling partition within the habitability area and a ceiling of the habitability area and a lower plenum formed between a raised floor partition within the habitability area and a floor of the habitability area. The system can additionally include at least one recirculation air handling unit located within the habitability area, the at least one recirculation air handling unit operable to generate a recirculation air flow within the habitability area by circulating air between the lower and upper plenums absent any air carrying ductwork routed through the ceiling, floor or walls of the habitability area.