Reactor containers

Purpose: To improve the operation efficiency of a nuclear reactor by shortening the time just after the completion of periodical inspection to the start of the operation. Constitution: When the periodical inspection is carried out while replacing the atmospheric nitrogen gas in a reactor container with airs, gaseous carbon dioxide in the airs is dissolved in coolants. After the completion of the inspection, the airs in the dry well and the pressure suppression chamber are replaced with nitrogen gases. Then, by driving a blower, the nitrogen gas in the dry well is sent by way of a recycling loop pipeway to a gageous carbon dioxide remover and, after the removal, introduced into the plenum of the pressure suppression chamber. When the pressure in the plenum goes higher than the pressure within the dry well, a check valve is opened causing the nitrogen gases containing gaseous carbon dioxide in the plenum to flow through vent tubes into the dry well, by which the pH of the coolants is rapidly recovered to the neutral level. (Sekiya, K.)