Spent Fuel Pool Venting for Radioactive Effluent Neutralization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current filtration systems for nuclear reactor containment ventilation require significant investment and have room for improvement in reducing the size and increasing effectiveness to minimize radioactive material release exposure, especially in severe accident scenarios.
Innovation Solution
A filtered venting system with a dedicated piping system connecting the containment to a spent fuel storage water pool, including valves and a chemical injection system to control and neutralize atmospheric effluents, which uses a sparger for effluent release and chemical injection at the bottom of the pool to maximize filtration efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a traditional filtration system is installed for containment ventilation, then radioactive contaminants can be filtered, but the system requires significant investment and occupies substantial space
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the containment ventilation filtration function with the existing spent fuel storage pool, using the pool water as the filtering medium. This merging eliminates the need for separate filtration equipment, reducing both investment cost and system size while maintaining effective radioactive contaminant removal capability
Solution Approach 2:
The spent fuel storage pool is given a dual function: it continues to store spent fuel while also serving as the filtration system for containment ventilation. This multi-functionality resolves the contradiction by utilizing existing infrastructure to provide contaminant filtration without requiring additional dedicated filtration equipment
2Stress or pressure
If pressure is released from containment during severe accidents, then pressure buildup is prevented, but radioactive material may escape into the environment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces spent fuel pool water as an intermediary medium between the containment atmosphere and the external environment. Radioactive effluent is routed through this water medium, which absorbs and filters radioactive particles, allowing pressure release while preventing direct atmospheric release of contaminants
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the potentially harmful spent fuel pool into a beneficial filtering medium. By routing containment effluent through the pool water, the system transforms what could be a source of contamination into an active component that captures and retains radioactive materials, turning a harm into a benefit
3Ease of manufacture
If existing infrastructure is utilized for filtration, then investment cost is reduced, but the system must ensure effective neutralization of radioactive effluents
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical parameters of the spent fuel pool water by injecting neutralizing chemicals (such as sodium hydroxide or other alkaline substances) to optimize its effectiveness in capturing radioactive effluents. This parameter adjustment ensures that the existing infrastructure achieves reliable neutralization without requiring new construction
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 provides a cost-effective and efficient means to filter and neutralize radioactive contaminants, reducing environmental impact by utilizing existing infrastructure and ensuring controlled pressure release without drawing spent fuel pool water into the containment.
Implementation Method 1
releasing the atmospheric effluent into a spent fuel storage water pool
Implementation Method 2
effluent release and chemical injection at the bottom of the pool to maximize filtration efficiency
Implementation Method 3
a chemical injection system configured to release a chemical into the spent fuel storage water pool to facilitate a reaction with the atmospheric effluent to be released to substantially neuter any deleterious environmental impact
Data Source
AI summary
A method of releasing an atmospheric effluent within a nuclear containment to an atmosphere surrounding the nuclear containment is disclosed. The nuclear containment is adjacent to an associated spent fuel pool that is located outside the nuclear containment, the method comprises sensing a pressure buildup within the nuclear containment, routing a portion of the atmospheric effluent through the spent fuel pool when a pressure buildup within the nuclear containment reaches a preselected value, and releasing a chemical into the spent fuel pool, based on the routing, to facilitate a reaction with the atmospheric effluent to substantially neuter any deleterious environmental impact of the atmospheric effluent.