Nuclear Pressure Relief Venturi Scrubber Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pressure relief systems in nuclear power plants face challenges in effectively containing radioactive aerosols and iodine during core meltdowns, leading to high costs and potential environmental contamination due to the need for large water reservoirs and extensive protection against external influences.
Innovation Solution
A compact pressure relief system with a Venturi scrubber that utilizes passive propellant pressure and accident-related pressure gradients to fill and maintain the washing fluid level, allowing for efficient filtration and retention of airborne activity within the containment, reducing the need for large external storage containers and minimizing external influences.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If large water reservoirs are used in scrubber systems to cool hot gases and prevent drying out, then the retention function is maintained, but the facility volume increases substantially and cannot be housed in existing buildings
Solution Approach 1:
The water reservoir is divided into two functional zones: an upper gaseous phase volume for hot gas accumulation and cooling, and a lower liquid phase volume for water storage and aerosol/iodine retention. This segmentation allows the same space to serve multiple functions, reducing the overall facility volume while maintaining retention reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The water in the reservoir serves multiple functions simultaneously: it cools the hot venting gases through evaporation, provides a liquid barrier for retaining radioactive aerosols and iodine, and acts as a heat sink for decay heat. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate cooling systems and large dedicated water storage tanks.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If scrubber facilities are installed outside the containment to protect from external influences, then protection against external influences is achieved, but construction costs increase substantially
Solution Approach 1:
The scrubber facility is merged with the containment structure itself, utilizing the containment building as the protective enclosure. This eliminates the need for separate protective buildings and reduces construction costs while maintaining protection against external influences such as terrorism or natural disasters.
Solution Approach 2:
The potential vulnerability of external installation is converted into an advantage by placing the scrubber inside the containment, where the same containment structure that protects against external threats also provides the installation space, thereby reducing overall construction costs.
3Quantity of substance
If passive propellant pressure is used to fill and maintain washing fluid level, then the system operates with minimal water requirements and compact design, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses passive propellant pressure generated by the accident scenario itself (pressure gradients within the containment) to fill and maintain the washing fluid level in the scrubber. This self-service mechanism eliminates the need for external pumps, valves, and control systems, reducing system complexity while maintaining compact design.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention utilizes pneumatic pressure gradients (propellant pressure) within the containment to automatically transport and maintain the washing fluid level in the scrubber system, replacing mechanical pumping systems and reducing overall system complexity.
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 ensures reliable operation with minimal water requirements, prevents ground contamination, and achieves high activity retention rates while reducing construction costs and maintaining safety standards, enabling a compact and efficient design for nuclear power facilities.
Implementation Method 1
A compact pressure relief system with a Venturi scrubber that utilizes passive propellant pressure and accident-related pressure gradients to fill and maintain the washing fluid level
Implementation Method 2
utilizes passive propellant pressure and accident-related pressure gradients to fill and maintain the washing fluid level
Implementation Method 3
allows for efficient filtration and retention of airborne activity within the containment
Data Source
AI summary
A pressure-relief system for the containment of a nuclear power facility allows reliable operation of a wet scrubber for the pressure relief flow with a simultaneously compact structural design. The pressure relief system has a pressure relief line guided through the containment and can be closed by a shut-off valve, a wet scrubber arranged in a portion of the pressure relief line located inside the containment, for the pressure relief flow which forms in the pressure-relief mode when the shut-off valve is open, a reservoir arranged inside the containment and is fluidically connected to the remaining inner space of the containment such that any overpressure, with respect to the surroundings outside the containment, prevailing in the containment is transferred at least in part to the reservoir, and a supply line leading from the reservoir to the wet scrubber for supplying the wet scrubber with fluid from the reservoir.