Method for preventing oxygen corrosion in a boiling water nuclear reactor and improved boiling water reactor system

Patent · Tue Jun 27 00:00:00 EDT 1989

OSTI ID:5561439

Desilva, S G

This patent describes a method for prevention of corrosion, due to oxygen activity, in a boiling water nuclear reactor system having a main feedwater recirculation loop comprising a reactor vessel with a reactor core and with a steam off-take line and a condensate return line in flow communication with the vessel for recirculating feedwater between the reactor and a steam turbine. The coolant water recirculation loops consist of coolant water off-take and return lines in flow communication with the vessel for recirculating coolant water in the vessel, wherein hydrogen is added to the coolant water passing through the reactor core to reduce the oxygen content of the coolant water. The improvement consists of: recirculation coolant water containing dissolved oxygen, after passage through the reactor core, is diverted from the recirculation loop; hydrogen gas is added to the diverted coolant water; the hydrogen-containing diverted coolant water is contacted with a catalyst effective to enhance reaction of hydrogen with oxygen contained in the coolant water; and the diverted coolant water, after reaction of the hydrogen gas with the oxygen contained therein, is returned to the recirculation loop for passage through the reactor core.

• Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp., Pittsburgh, PA
• Patent Number(s): US 4842811
• Application Number: TRN: 89-029336
• OSTI ID: 5561439
• Resource Relation: Patent File Date: 5 Feb 1985
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS
BWR TYPE REACTORS
CORROSION PROTECTION
FEEDWATER
HYDROGENATION
CIRCULATING SYSTEMS
OXYGEN
REACTOR COOLING SYSTEMS
SOLUTES
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
COOLING SYSTEMS
ELEMENTS
ENERGY SYSTEMS
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
NONMETALS
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
REACTOR COMPONENTS
REACTORS
WATER
WATER COOLED REACTORS
WATER MODERATED REACTORS
210100* - Power Reactors
Nonbreeding
Light-Water Moderated
Boiling Water Cooled