Demonstrative testing of honeycomb passive autocatalytic recombiner for nuclear power plant

Abstract

Passive autocatalytic recombiners (PAR) are widely being used as hydrogen control device in the current and advanced light water reactors (ALWRs). The PARs lend themselves to very effective means of circumventing buildup of combustible or detonable hydrogen gas mixtures in the reactor containment. Korea Nuclear Technology Inc. has recently developed a new PAR system with high porous catalyst material in the shape of honeycomb. The honeycomb PAR catalyst has a design characteristic of improved hydrogen removal performance by increasing the surface area and enhancing the flow rate through the catalyst at the same time, without increasing PAR size compared to the conventional PARs. The experimental study was focused on the development of the hydrogen depletion rate correlation of the honeycomb PAR. Two different sizes of PARs, KPAR-40 and KPAR-T2, have been employed in the tailor-made Integral Test Facility and Performance Test Facility. Multiple tests were conducted in various conditions of pressure, temperature, and hydrogen concentration. The hydrogen depletion rate correlation and the PAR performance constant were determined from the experimental results, which can be applied to the honeycomb PAR system. Also determined was the scale effect due to the PAR size, i.e., the number of catalysts in a PAR.