Devices and methods for managing noncombustible gasses in nuclear power plants

摘要

Systems (100, 200, 300, 400) passively eliminate noncondensable gasses from facilities susceptible to damage from combustion of built-up noncondensable gasses, such as H2 and O2 in nuclear power plants, without the need for external power and/or moving parts. Systems include catalyst plates (105) installed in a lower header (53) of the Passive Containment Cooling System (PCCS) condenser (50), a catalyst packing member (205), and/or a catalyst coating (305) on an interior surface of a condensation tube (52) of the PCCS condenser (50) or an annular outlet (54) of the PCCS condenser (50). Structures may have surfaces or hydrophobic elements that inhibit water formation and promote contact with the noncondensable gas. Noncondensable gasses in a nuclear power plant are eliminated by installing and using the systems individually or in combination. An operating pressure of the PCCS condenser may be increased to facilitate recombination of noncondensable gasses therein.