Condenser-type gas combiner

Claim 2

In a ''''water-boiler'''' nuclear reactor wherein during operation water is radiolytically decomposed in the core region thereby forming hydrogen and oxygen, and wherein said reactor has associated therewith a catalytic gas recombiner operable to recombine said hydrogen and oxygen into water for return to the core region, the improvement comprising a catalytic gas recombiner having a. a first zone containing hydrogen and oxygen gases, said first zone being maintained at a pressure below atmospheric pressure, b. a second downstream zone separate and discrete from said first zone, said second zone containing means for condensing water vapor, said second zone having a pressure less than the pressure in said first zone, and c. catalyst means for effecting the reaction: 2H2 + O2 -> 2H2O positioned in flow communication between said first and second zones such that said catalyst means provides the sole means for gaseous communications and flow between said first and second zones, the lowering of pressure by condensation of water vapor in said second zone being the driving force to cause flow of said gases into said catalyst means and flow of recombined gas vapor into said second zone.

Claim 3

The ''''water-boiler'''' reactor of claim 3 wherein said first zone has a pressure of from about 2 to about 50 cm of mercury.

Claim 4

In a nuclear power plant containing a ''''boiling water'''' nuclear reactor wherein high pressure steam is generated, a turbine powered by said high pressure steam, and a condenser to convert exhaust turbine steam into water for return to said reactor, and wherein hydrogen and oxygen are radiolytically formed within said reactor and are carried with said steam through the turbine and into said condenser and are passed from said condenser in the gaseous phase, the improvement comprising a catalytic gas recombiner operable to recombine said hydrogen and oxygen into water, said recombiner having a. a first zone containing hydrogen and oxygen gases, said first zone being maintained at a pressure below atmospheric pressure, b. a second downstream zone separate and discrete from said first zone, said second zone containing means for condensing water vapor, said second zone having a pressure less than the pressure in said first zone, and c. catalyst means for effecting the reaction: 2H2 + O2 -> 2H2O positioned in flow communication between said first and second zones such that said catalyst means provides the sole means for gaseous communications and flow between said first and second zones, the lowering of pressure by condensation of water vapor in said second zone being the driving force to cause flow of said gases into said catalyst means and flow of recombined gas vapor into said second zone.

Claim 5

The power plant of claim 5 wherein said first zone has a pressure of less than about 10 cm of mercury.

Claim 6

The power plant of claim 6 wherein said condensing means comprises an indirect heat excHanger.

Claim 7

The power plant of claim 6 wherein said condensing means comprises a direct heat exchanger, and wherein water is used as the heat exchange medium.