Device incorporating micro-porous membrane for venting gases from seal assembly of a reactor coolant pump

For use in a pump having a stationary seal housing with pressurized liquid and gas therein, a rotatable member disposed in the housing and operable for causing rotation of the liquid within the housing, and a seal assembly disposed within the housing between the housing and rotatable member, a gas venting device comprising:

• (a) a body having spaced inner and outer surfaces and being mountable to the seal housing so as to dispose said inner and outer surfaces of said body respectively adjacent to, and in communication with, the interior and exterior of the seal housing, said body being in the form of an externally threaded plug being threadably mountable into an internally threaded bore in the seal housing;
• (b) means defining a passageway through said body extending between, and having respective entry and exit openings at, said respective inner and outer surfaces of said body for providing communication between the interior and exterior of the seal housing;
• and
• (c) a micro-porous membrane mounted at one or the other of said surfaces of said body across a corresponding one or the other of said entry and exit openings of said passageway for permitting flow of gases from the interior to the exterior of the housing through said passageway while blocking flow of the liquid therethrough.

In a pump having a stationary seal housing with pressurized liquid and gas therein, a rotatable member disposed in said housing and operable for causing rotation of said liquid within said housing, and a seal assembly disposed within the housing between said housing and rotatable member, a gas venting device comprising:

• (a) a body having spaced inner and outer sides and being mounted to the seal housing so as to dispose said inner and outer sides of said body respectively adjacent to, and in communication with, the interior and exterior of the seal housing;
• (b) means defined through said body for facilitating flow of the liquid and gas from the interior to exterior of the seal housing;
• and
• 15 (c) means mounted on said body for permitting flow of gas from the interior to the exterior of the housing through said flow facilitating means while blocking flow of liquid therethrough from the interior to the exterior of the housing.