Air filtration and handling for nuclear reactor habitability area

摘要

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.

主权项

1. A system for circulating and conditioning air within a nuclear plant, said system comprising:
a habitability area with walls, a ceiling and a floor; an upper plenum formed between a lowered ceiling partition within the habitability area and the ceiling of the habitability area; a lower plenum formed between a raised floor partition within the habitability area and the floor of the habitability area; 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 throughout 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; and a smoke purge subsystem including,
a smoke purge fan located exterior to the habitability area and directly connected to the upper plenum via smoke purge outlet ductwork, andexterior air inlet ductwork connecting an exterior air access to the lower plenum via the exterior air inlet ductwork,the smoke purge fan being a dedicated fan for the upper plenum of the habitability area and being operable to draw exterior air into the habitability area through the exterior air inlet ductwork and purge air from within the habitability area to an environment exterior of the habitability area through the smoke purge outlet ductwork,the lower plenum being a supply plenum for the recirculation air flow and the upper plenum being a return plenum for the recirculation air flow,wherein the smoke purge fan is further operable to draw the exterior air into the habitability area through the exterior air inlet ductwork and purge air from within the habitability area to the environment exterior of the habitability area through the smoke purge outlet ductwork even during periods when the at least one recirculation air handling unit is not in operation.