US 3,937,796 A · Recuperative thermal recombining system for handling loss of coolant

Abstract

A recycle loop method and recuperative heating system is provided for thermally recombining hydrogen and oxygen, such as may be desired in connection with a dissociated gas stream from a containment vessel for a nuclear reactor under loss of coolant accident conditions. The dissociated charge stream is preferably heated by indirect heat exchange with a resulting water vapor containing combined stream to effect heat conservation and, also preferably, the recuperative heat exchange operation and the high temperature recombining reaction are carried out in a unitary zone incorporating electrical, non-flame, heat input means. A particular feature of the present system resides in having the recycle of a portion of the resulting combined stream from the recombiner section pass into admixture with the hydrogen-oxygen containing charge stream to preclude an explosive condition and further having the quantity of such recycle regulated responsive to a temperature differential being measured across the recombiner zone as an indication of the oxygen level in such charge stream.

Claims6

Dependent claims

A method for thermally recombining dissociated hydrogen and oxygen in a loss of coolant gaseous stream from a nuclear reactor containment which comprises:

a. passing the dissociated gaseous charge stream into admixture with a resulting high temperature water vapor containing combined gaseous stream obtained as hereinafter set forth,
b. subsequently passing the resulting higher temperature gaseous stream into a recombiner zone having a temperature therein sufficiently high to effectuate association with said dissociated gaseous charge stream wherein the stream is heated under non-flame conditions to effect the reaction of hydrogen and oxygen and providing a resulting water vapor containing combined gaseous stream,
c. subsequently splitting the resulting combined gaseous stream and recycling a regulated proportion thereof into admixture with the dissociated charge stream as aforesaid, and
d. effecting the regulation of the quantity of such recycle portion of the combined gaseous stream responsive to the sensing of the temperature level at said high temperature recombiner zone so that there is maintained an oxygen content therein below an explosive level.

1 more element

A heat recuperative method for thermally recombining dissociated hydrogen and oxygen in a loss of coolant gaseous stream from a nuclear reactor containment, which comprises:

a. passing the dissociated gaseous charge stream into an elongated pathway heat exchange zone and elevating the temperature of such stream by indirect heat exchange with a resulting high temperature water vapor containing combined gaseous stream obtained as hereinafter set forth,
b. subsequently passing the partially heated gaseous stream into a high temperature recombiner zone wherein the stream is heated under non-flame conditions to effect the reaction of hydrogen and oxygen and providing a resulting water vapor containing combined gaseous stream,
c. passing the latter in heat exchange with the inlet gaseous stream as aforesaid,
d. subsequently splitting the resulting combined gaseous stream and recycling a regulated proportion thereof into admixture with the dissociated charge stream as aforesaid, and
e. regulating the quantity of such recycle portion of the combined gaseous stream responsive to the sensing of the temperature level of the resulting combined gaseous stream from the recombiner zone so that there is maintained an oxygen content therein below an explosive level.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Recuperative thermal recombining system for handling loss of coolant

Life of this patent

Recuperative thermal recombining system for handling loss of coolant

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims6