Patent US3937796A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3937796A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Recuperative thermal recombining system for handling loss of coolant
Assignee: Universal Oil Products Co
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Filing: 1973-11-23
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Granted: 1976-02-10
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Expires: 1993-11-23
Abstract
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.
Inventors
- 👤 Andrew Tej Bhan
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 12:10
CPC Classifications
G; G21; G21C; G21C19/00; G21C19/28; G21C19/30; G21C19/317; C; C01; C01B; C01B5/00; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E30/00; Y02E30/30
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
169 words
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.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
169 words
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.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
53 words
The method of claim 1 further characterized in that the sensing of the temperature level at the recombiner zone provides for measurements ahead of and downstream from such zone whereby to produce a differential temperature measurement across said zone and, in turn, sense changes in oxygen level in the stream to said zone.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
188 words
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.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
188 words
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.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
48 words
The method of claim 3 further characterized in that a quantity of the resulting combined gaseous stream is returned to the containment in an amount substantially equivalent to that being withdrawn therefrom and such returned portion is cooled down to a temperature of the order of 200° F.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
66 words
The method of claim 3 further characterized in that the dissociated gaseous stream being withdrawn from the containment and the recycle portion is passed through a compressor means providing a substantially uniform maximum flow quantity being introduced into the recombiner zone, whereby a steady state volume can be provided and the volume provided for return to the containment is substantially equivalent to that being withdrawn therefrom.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
72 words
The method of claim 3 further characterized in that the heating under non-flame conditions is carried out to provide a reaction initiation temperature of about 1100° F. and two after stages of cooling are provided for the resulting combined gaseous stream from heat exchange with the charge stream and from additional heat exchange for that portion returned to the containment such that the temperature is reduced to the order of 200° F.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1979-02-09 | 1979-08-11 | 1980-02-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1983-02-09 | 1983-08-11 | 1984-02-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1987-02-09 | 1987-08-11 | 1988-02-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |