Development of high efficiency containment venting system by using AgX

Fukushima Daiichi NPP accident would be terminated, if sufficient accident countermeasures, such as water proof door, mobile power, etc [1, 2]. In case of Europe, it had already installed the heat removal system and filtered containment venting system (FCVS) from the lessons of TMI and Chernobyl Accidents. The new regulatory standard in Japan, the filtered vent system (FCVS) should be installed, and prevent the radioactive material in case of the severe accident and the overpressure breakage prevention of a primary containment vessel (PCV) and also the robustization of the FCVS. The authors examined the severe accident process in the 2^nd unit of Fukushima Daiichi NPS, and found the vent by FCVS should be done before water injection into the core. The PCV spray and water injection into the pedestal basement should be also the countermeasures to the severe accident. Countermeasures for an intentional aircraft collision should be installed too. Upon occurrence of a severe accident (SA), vent gas with radioactive fission products is blown out to a scrubbing pool through numerous venturi nozzles. Mist in steam moves upward to a metal fiber filter through a multi-hole baffle plate. After the mist is removed by that filter, radioactive methyl iodine (CH₃I) is captured on the surface of a molecular sieve or AgX, made from zeolite particles with silver coating. A FCVS visualized test facility was installed at Hokkaido University. An AgX filter is used down-stream of the scrubbing pool and metal fiver filter. Thickness of AgX filter is very important parameter to obtain enough decontamination factor (DF). The DF for the radioactive iodine exceeds 10,000 at bed depth (AgX filter thickness) greater than 75mm.