AECL Passive Autocatalytic Recombiners

Abstract

Atomic Energy of Canada Limited's (AECL) Passive Autocatalytic Recombiner (PAR) is a passive device used for hydrogen mitigation under post-accident conditions in nuclear reactor containment. The PAR employs a proprietary AECL catalyst which promotes the exothermal reaction between hydrogen and oxygen to form water vapour. The heat of reaction combined with the PAR geometry establishes a convective flow through the recombiner, where ambient hydrogen-rich gas enters the PAR inlet and hot, humid, hydrogen-depleted gas exits the outlet. AECL's PAR has been extensively qualified for CANDU and light water reactors (LWRs), and has been supplied to France, Finland, Ukraine, South Korea and is currently being deployed in Canadian nuclear power plants.