Researchers at the Environmental Engineering and Technology Department of CIRP have achieved a significant breakthrough in simulating high-temperature, high-pressure steam environments and monitoring steam humidity. This development allows for the assessment of adsorbents' performance in removing radioactive iodine under Design Basis Accident (DBA) conditions in nuclear power plant containment structures that underscores China's dedication to nuclear safety.

The achievement marks a crucial step in China's nuclear safety efforts. Researchers have devised technology that accurately simulates radioactive steam environments meeting ASME AG-1 standards, with a temperature of 130±2°C, pressure of 399±5 kPa, and relative humidity of 95±3% RH. The technology ensures precise measurements of high-temperature steam relative humidity traceable to the International System of Units (SI).

This newly developed DBA condition adsorbent performance evaluation system is now the sole one in China conforming to ASME AG-1 standards and providing traceable measurements for steam relative humidity at temperatures exceeding 100°C. This technological advance permits routine evaluation of adsorbent performance in operational nuclear power plants, ensuring regulatory compliance and minimizing environmental impacts associated with radioactive iodine release during accidents.

Furthermore, this technology has been successfully integrated into all operational nuclear power plants in China and can be applied to simulate and monitor various gaseous radioactive nuclide steam environments, conduct periodic assessments of adsorbent performance in containment pressure relief systems, develop new, highly efficient adsorbents, and support high-quality steam environment simulation and humidity monitoring in research and production settings.

Contact: official@cirp.org.cn