Nuclear Power Plant Primary Containment Vessel Venting System
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Solution Overview
Problem
The primary containment vessel venting system faces challenges in continuously discharging vapor from the primary containment vessel without releasing radioactive noble gases to the outside, requiring large enclosing vessels and external power sources, which complicates the process and increases the risk of pressure buildup.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a radioactive substance separation apparatus inside the primary containment vessel, where vapor can permeate but radioactive noble gases cannot, connected to a vent pipe and an exhaust tower, allowing for continuous vapor discharge without external power and enclosing vessels.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a radioactive substance separation apparatus is provided outside the primary containment vessel, then radioactive noble gases can be separated and enclosed, but the system requires large enclosing vessels and external power sources, increasing device complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges the radioactive substance separation apparatus with the primary containment vessel by disposing the separation membrane inside the vessel. This integration eliminates the need for separate enclosing vessels and external power sources, reducing device complexity while maintaining reliable radioactive substance containment through the membrane's selective permeability properties
Solution Approach 2:
The separation membrane is nested within the primary containment vessel, creating a layered containment structure. The membrane is disposed inside the vessel to form an integrated system where the vessel contains both the reactor and the separation membrane, eliminating the need for external enclosing structures
2Reliability
If the radioactive substance separation apparatus is provided outside the primary containment vessel, then separation can occur, but vapor cannot continuously permeate through the membrane, preventing continuous pressure reduction
Solution Approach 1:
By integrating the separation membrane inside the primary containment vessel, the system enables continuous vapor permeation directly at the source. The membrane is positioned to allow vapor to continuously pass through while retaining radioactive noble gases, maintaining both separation reliability and continuous productivity without external apparatus
Solution Approach 2:
The separation membrane acts as an intermediary element disposed within the primary containment vessel, mediating between the reactor environment and the containment atmosphere. It selectively allows vapor to pass through while blocking radioactive noble gases, enabling continuous separation and pressure reduction without requiring external separation apparatus
3Reliability
If a returning pipe and pump are added to circulate vented gas, then impurities can be prevented from retaining near the separation membrane, but the device complexity and power requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system utilizes the natural buoyancy and flow characteristics of vapor to maintain membrane performance. By disposing the membrane inside the primary containment vessel where vapor naturally rises and circulates, the system achieves self-cleaning effects without requiring external pumps or returning pipes, maintaining reliability while avoiding additional complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts the essential separation function from the complex external circulation system and implements it directly within the primary containment vessel. By placing the membrane inside the vessel, the system eliminates the need for separate circulation apparatus, achieving both impurity removal and simplicity through the membrane's strategic positioning
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 configuration enables continuous pressure reduction and vapor discharge from the primary containment vessel without releasing radioactive substances, preventing pressure buildup and leakage, thus ensuring safer containment and operation without external power or enclosing vessels.
Implementation Method 1
a radioactive substance separation apparatus which is disposed inside the primary containment vessel and through which the radioactive noble gases do not permeate but vapor permeates
Data Source
AI summary
In view of above problems, an object of the invention is to provide a primary containment vessel venting system having a structure capable of continuously discharging vapor in a primary containment vessel out of the system and continuously reducing pressure of the primary containment vessel without discharging radioactive noble gases to the outside of the containment vessel and without using an enclosing vessel or a power source. In order to achieve the above object, an nuclear power plant of the invention includes a primary containment vessel which includes a reactor pressure vessel, a radioactive substance separation apparatus which is disposed inside the primary containment vessel and through which the radioactive noble gases do not permeate but vapor permeates, a vent pipe which is connected to the radioactive substance separation apparatus, and an exhaust tower which is connected to the vent pipe and discharges a gas, from which a radioactive substance is removed, to the outside.