Dissolved Oxygen Removal by Catalyst-Loaded Ion Exchange Resin - Studies in a Simulation Loop

摘要

Dissolved oxygen control is important to reduce corrosion of various structural materials in the primary coolant system of pressurized heavy water reactors. Under normal operating conditions, in the presence of a radiation field, the added hydrogen scavenges any dissolved oxygen. Similar control is desirable under reactor shutdown conditions as well. This scavenging of oxygen is not available under shutdown conditions due to the lack of a radiation field. Conventional methods such as sodium sulphite, hydrazine addition, etc. can alter the water chemistry and are not very effective, in this work, a catalyst-loaded ion exchange resin, aiding the recombination reaction, was evaluated in a recirculating loop for its suitability to remove dissolved oxygen in nuclear reactor water coolant systems. The process was successfully demonstrated and the dissolved oxygen level could be brought down to 0.01 mg · L~(-1). The extent of palladium leaching from the resin was also investigated.