Helium Purification Unit study

1. Helium Purification Unit

Study based in the Smolensk and Kursk Nuclear Power Plant
CTtride

2.

Condenser
Room 011/5,6, GK condenser room
Condenser
The condenser is intended
to remove moisture gained
in the production in AKS or
the mixture exiting the
reactor. 2 Condensers per
condenser room, one for
reserve in the emergency of
too much moisture build up.
After cooling and drying the
mixture then goes to the
Filtration Column Unit
located in room 011/1-4.
CTtride

3.

Iodine Filter Column
Condenser
Room 011/1-4 GK filter room
Iodine Filter Column
The iodine filter is intended for
purification of the gas mixture from
solid particles and iodine. 2 filters, one
is operational and one is in reserve in
case of pressure build up and/or the
reduction of filter efficiency. Impurities
that were filtered out go through the
drainage pipeline number 6. The
difference between block 1 and block
2, in block 1 there sits a electric heater
to enhance removal of aerosols and
iodine shown below.
CTtride

4.

Gas Circuit
Iodine
FilterCompressor
Column
Condenser
Room 003/1-8 GK compressor box
Note: The detailed operation and description is located in a different study
Gas Circuit Compressor
The gas compressor is intended to
compress the gas mixture to ~400 psi
for the safe and operable
transportation through pipelines and
equipment. The compressor is made
up of multiple stages and subsystems,
some of which include: Main
compression stage, lubrications,
cooling, pressurations, and the electric
motor. The detailed explanations,
schemes, and operation is labelled in
“Gas Circuit Compressor study”
CTtride

5.

Iodine Filter Column
Condenser
Gas Circuit Recipients
Room 002/1-2 GK recipient box
Gas Circuit Receivers
The gas receiver is intended for
damping pressure pulsations of the
gas supplied from the gas circuit
compressor.
Gas Circuit Recipient
The gas recipient is intended to
receive nitrogen-helium mixture from
the Gas Circuit when its emptying is
needed and to store it for a short
period, in case of emergency where
there is a excess of gas in the UPAK
or reactor holding.
Gas Circuit Receivers
CTtride

6.

Room 054/202/1, Contact Apparatus
Refrigerator
Electric Heater
Dehumidifier
Refrigerator
Mixture is cooled to 40-45
C for the condensation of
water vapor
Electric Heater
Heats gas mixture to 130160 C to get rid of excess
oxygen produced from the
AKS
Refrigerator
Electric Heater
Dehumidifier
Dehumidifier
Removes the
condensate from
the previous
stage
CTtride

7.

Room 202/3, Part 1: Contact Apparatus
Cooler
Cooler
CA Cooler
The contact apparatus
cooler is intended for
cooling the nitrogen–helium
mixture after the contact
apparatus. The circulation of
the nitrogen-helium mixture
is carried out in the inner
pipe, with cooling performed
by water from the industrial
circuit circulating in the
annular gap between the
inner and outer pipes.
For the coolant water, the
refrigerator is structurally
divided into 2 sections
operating in parallel.
CTtride

8.

Room 202/3, Part 2: Fluidizer Heat
Exchanger Box
Heat Exchanger Liquefier
Heat Exchanger
Liquefier
Heat Exchanger
Liquefier
Condensate
Collector
Dehumidifier (Scheme/Picture is N/A)
The dehumidifier of the heat exchangerliquefier is intended for separating
moisture that arrives as part of a nitrogenhelium mixture after the heat
exchanger-liquefier.
Dehumidifier
The heat exchanger
liquefier is designed for
cooling the nitrogen-helium
mixture prior to its feed into
the BOO adsorbers to the
operational temperature of
the adsorbers and for
condensing the majority of
the moisture contained in
the nitrogen-helium mixture.
Condensate Collector
The condensate collector is
designed to divert moisture
from the dehumidifier of the
heat exchanger-liquefier and
the dehumidifier of the
contact apparatus, while
simultaneously reducing
losses of the nitrogen
helium mixture.
Condensate
Collector
CTtride

9.

Room 203/1-4 GK Drying Unit
BOO Adsorber
Adsorber Filter
BOO Adsorber
Adsorber Filter
Gas Circuit Drying Unit
The Purification and Drying
Unit is designed for the
purification of nitrogen
helium mixture from non
condensed moisture, as well
as impurities of carbon
monoxide and dioxide,
chlorine, and ammonia.
BOO Adsorber
The adsorber is intended for
the drying of a nitrogen
helium mixture from
moisture and the purification
from carbon monoxide and
Adsorber Filter
dioxide, ammonia, and
The filter is designed for the
chlorine.
mechanical purification of
the gas flow from adsorbent
dust under all operating
modes of the adsorber
CTtride

10.

Room 201/1-4 GK Cooling Unit
Gas Circuit Cooling Unit
The Deep Cooling Unit is
designed for the purification
of a nitrogen helium mixture
from micro impurities of
oxygen, argon, and other
gases that have passed
through the adsorptive
purification block.
BGO Deflegmator
The deflegmator is intended
for the extraction of helium
from the nitrogen helium
mixture through the
condensation of nitrogen
and other gaseous
Main Heat Exchanger
The main heat exchanger is
designed to cool the
nitrogen helium mixture
supplied to the deep cooling
unit to -185°C using
countercurrent gas flows:
purified helium, "pure"
nitrogen, "dirty" nitrogen,
and the nitrogen-helium
mixture.
Steam Separator
The Steam Separator is
designed for the separation
of helium dissolved in a
liquid "dirty" nitrogen helium
mixture.
BGO Electric Heater
In the K11 the electric
heater is intended for the
Holding vessel
thawing of the BGO system.
The vessel is designed for
the extended retention of a
gas mixture that is
supplied from the
dephlegmator "cube" with
the aim of reducing its
activity.
CTtride

11. End of Study

Next: Gas Circuit Compressor study
CTtride