Non-Volatile Liquid Organic Iodine Trapping in Nuclear Vessels

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing filtered containment venting apparatuses are inefficient in trapping organic iodine, such as methyl iodine, due to its insolubility in water and the deterioration of trapping materials like silver zeolite or activated carbon when moisture adheres, leading to complex structures and increased costs.

Innovation Solution

An organic iodine trapping apparatus using a non-volatile liquid, such as ionic liquids, that decomposes organic iodine into ionic form, trapping it effectively within the apparatus, even at high temperatures, by heating the liquid with reaction heat from the nuclear reactor or external heating sources.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If silver zeolite or activated carbon is used to trap organic iodine, then trapping capability is improved, but device complexity increases due to required moisture removal mechanisms

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveorganic iodine trapping capabilityVSAvoidapparatus structure
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts and removes the problematic moisture removal mechanism from the system by using a non-volatile liquid that inherently resists moisture adhesion. The liquid phase trapping medium eliminates the need for separate drying sections or moisture control devices that would be required with solid trapping materials like silver zeolite or activated carbon.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the physical state parameter from solid trapping materials to liquid phase medium. By using a non-volatile liquid, the system exploits liquid-phase dissolution and chemical reaction mechanisms rather than solid-phase adsorption, fundamentally altering how organic iodine is trapped and eliminating moisture sensitivity issues.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If large amounts of silver zeolite or activated carbon are used to trap organic iodine, then trapping efficiency is improved, but cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveorganic iodine trapping efficiencyVSAvoidtrapping material amount
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The invention changes the trapping mechanism from physical adsorption on solid surfaces to chemical dissolution and reaction in liquid phase. This parameter change enables more efficient use of trapping material, as the non-volatile liquid can chemically react with and permanently bind organic iodine through processes like dehalogenation, rather than relying on limited surface adsorption sites.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The invention employs composite functionality by combining the non-volatile liquid medium with reactive components that can chemically transform organic iodine. This composite approach creates a trapping system where the liquid serves multiple functions: dissolving organic iodine, providing reaction sites for decomposition, and preventing re-volatilization, thereby reducing the total quantity of trapping material needed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

3Device complexity

If conventional wet type filters are used, then structure is simplified, but organic iodine trapping capability deteriorates due to insolubility in water

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveapparatus structureVSAvoidorganic iodine trapping capability
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The invention changes the chemical composition parameter of the liquid medium from water-based to non-volatile organic-based. This parameter change fundamentally improves organic iodine trapping capability by providing a medium in which organic iodine is soluble and reactive, overcoming the insolubility problem that plagues water-based wet filters.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The invention converts the hydrophobic nature of organic iodine, which causes it to be repelled by water-based filters, into a benefit by using a non-polar or less polar non-volatile liquid medium. The organic iodine's natural affinity for such liquids enables effective dissolution and trapping, turning the original problem of water insolubility into an advantageous solubility feature.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

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 apparatus efficiently traps organic iodine, preventing its leakage into the environment by decomposing it into a stable ionic state within the liquid phase, enhancing trapping efficiency and reducing the need for large amounts of trapping materials and complex structures.

Implementation Method 1

a non-volatile liquid which has a capability of decomposing organic iodine

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectDecomposition: Decomposition (biological)

Implementation Method 2

decomposes organic iodine into a stable ionic state within the liquid phase

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectIonization: Ionisation

Implementation Method 3

even at high temperatures, by heating the liquid with reaction heat from the nuclear reactor or external heating sources

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal heating: Heating

Data Source

PatentEP3896704B1Organic iodine collection device and organic iodine collection method
Publication Date: 2024.09.18 HITACHI GE NUCLEAR ENERGY LTD
  • EP3896704B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3896704B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3896704B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

The present invention provides an organic iodine trapping apparatus and an organic iodine trapping method capable of efficiently trapping organic iodine in a nuclear reactor container vessel. There is provided an organic iodine trapping apparatus (100) that traps organic iodine in a nuclear reactor container vessel (10), including: a liquid vessel (1) containing a non-volatile liquid (L1) (Example: ionic liquid, interfacial active agent solution and the like) capable of decomposing organic iodine; and an introduction pipe (2a) for introducing a fluid containing organic iodine in the nuclear reactor container vessel (10) to the non-volatile liquid (L1), in which the non-volatile liquid (L1) is heated by heat in the nuclear reactor container vessel (10) or reaction heat of the fluid in the nuclear reactor container vessel (10), and then decomposes and traps the organic iodine. There is provided an organic iodine trapping method including: heating a non-volatile liquid (L1) capable of decomposing organic iodine by heat in the nuclear reactor container vessel (10) or reaction heat of fluid in the nuclear reactor container vessel (10); making the fluid containing organic iodine pass through the heated non-volatile liquid (L1); and decomposing and trapping the organic iodine in the non-volatile liquid (L1).