The Research About Explosive Gas Atmosphere and Explosion Proof Technique of Waste Gas Treatment System in Nuclear Power Plant

Abstract

Hydrogen waste gas has been produced during normal operation of pressurized water reactor nuclear power plant and sent to the atmospheric environment after treatment in confined space areas. In this process, hydrogen explosive atmosphere is formed and it becomes a threat to the production safety. This article analyzed the potential release resource and explosive environment in the wastes treatment buildings, and presented a few of I&C explosion proof techniques applicable to the nuclear power plant. Commonly used explosion proof techniques of I&C design include flameproof enclosure type and intrinsically safe type. Flameproof enclosure technique focuses on the integrity while intrinsically safe technique emphasizes the compatibility of equipment installation environment and all the apparatuses in the system. The analyses show that the explosive gas atmosphere can be classified as secondary zone and application of different explosion proof techniques should take consideration of different aspects.