Depressurization of nuclear power plants through a silica gel-based system

Abstract

A silica gel-based system that demonstrates cost-effectiveness, stability and easy maintenance, is proposed, and the corresponding simulations are performed in this study. With the system, depressurization and CHF enhancement can be simultaneously realized. Several parameters such as the particle size, initial steam partial pressure and containment free volume on the steam removal efficiency are considered to assess the overall applicability of the system to nuclear power plants. The adsorption process becomes saturated in relatively short periods, and peak pressures by ejected high-temperature steam can be mitigated thereby. Besides, the silica gel-based system will show great functionality, especially for the small-sized reactors.