An igniter apparatus which generates a high speed buoyancy induced vortex to funnel hydrogen and air from the surrounding onto the igniter core where an igniter core heats up to the auto ignition temperature by the exothermic catalytic oxidation of hydrogen on its surface. Water (vapor) is formed as the product, which inhibits the oxidation reaction, if not stripped away from the catalyst surface. The high velocity of the vortex ensures the stripping of the boundary layer of steam that is formed by the reaction, thus ensuring more active sites are available for hydrogen oxidation. The vortex is formed by channeling an upward draft into a vortex by guided fins. The upward draft is formed by a plate, which is also coated with a hydrogen recombination catalyst. The plate becomes hot by the same catalytic oxidation reaction in the presence of air containing hydrogen.

An igniter apparatus which generates a high speed buoyancy induced vortex to funnel hydrogen and air from the surrounding onto the igniter core where an igniter core heats up to the auto ignition temperature by the exothermic catalytic oxidation of hydrogen on its surface. Water (vapor) is formed as the product, which inhibits the oxidation reaction, if not stripped away from the catalyst surface. The high velocity of the vortex ensures the stripping of the boundary layer of steam that is formed by the reaction, thus ensuring more active sites are available for hydrogen oxidation. The vortex is formed by channeling an upward draft into a vortex by guided fins. The upward draft is formed by a plate, which is also coated with a hydrogen recombination catalyst. The plate becomes hot by the same catalytic oxidation reaction in the presence of air containing hydrogen.

A catalytic recombiner and filter apparatus is especially suited for placement in a containment of a nuclear reactor. The apparatus has a natural convection flow duct with a number of catalytic elements for recombining hydrogen and oxygen contained in a gas flow through the flow duct. The catalytic recombiner and filter apparatus provides for reliable hydrogen reduction and iodine filtering for a gas flow even for a comparatively long period of operation. The catalytic recombiner and filter apparatus includes a number of adsorber elements with iodine adsorbing surfaces and with macroscopic flow channels in between. The iodine adsorbing surfaces are flown over by the gas flow, and the adsorber elements are arranged, when in use, downstream of the catalytic elements in a direction of the gas flow.

A catalytic recombiner and filter apparatus is especially suited for placement in a containment of a nuclear reactor. The apparatus has a natural convection flow duct with a number of catalytic elements for recombining hydrogen and oxygen contained in a gas flow through the flow duct. The catalytic recombiner and filter apparatus provides for reliable hydrogen reduction and iodine filtering for a gas flow even for a comparatively long period of operation. The catalytic recombiner and filter apparatus includes a number of adsorber elements with iodine adsorbing surfaces and with macroscopic flow channels in between. The iodine adsorbing surfaces are flown over by the gas flow, and the adsorber elements are arranged, when in use, downstream of the catalytic elements in a direction of the gas flow.

A PCCS condenser may include a first and a second stage condenser. Each of the first and second stage condensers may include channels in fluid communication between an inlet and an outlet header. The inlet header of the first stage condenser may be configured to receive a fluid mixture through a first inlet opening. The channels may be configured to condense water from the fluid mixture flowing through the channels from the inlet header to the outlet header, respectively, of the first and second stage condenser. The PCCS condenser may include a catalyst in at least one of the outlet header of the first stage condenser or the inlet header of the second stage condenser. The catalyst may catalyze a reaction for forming water from hydrogen and oxygen in the fluid mixture. The outlet header of the second stage condenser may be in fluid communication with a combined vent-and-drain line.

A hydrogen oxidation catalyst is provided, comprising a zeolite that contains at least one catalytically active noble metal or a compound thereof, wherein said zeolite is a hydrophobic zeolite. A use of the catalyst and a method for hydrogen recombination in nuclear power plants, reprocessing plants or fuel element repositories is also specified.

A hydrogen oxidation catalyst is provided, comprising a zeolite that contains at least one catalytically active noble metal or a compound thereof, wherein said zeolite is a hydrophobic zeolite. A use of the catalyst and a method for hydrogen recombination in nuclear power plants, reprocessing plants or fuel element repositories is also specified.

An igniter apparatus which generates a high speed buoyancy induced vortex to funnel hydrogen and air from the surrounding onto the igniter core where an igniter core heats up to the auto ignition temperature by the exothermic catalytic oxidation of hydrogen on its surface. Water (vapor) is formed as the product, which inhibits the oxidation reaction, if not stripped away from the catalyst surface. The high velocity of the vortex ensures the stripping of the boundary layer of steam that is formed by the reaction, thus ensuring more active sites are available for hydrogen oxidation. The vortex is formed by channeling an upward draft into a vortex by guided fins. The upward draft is formed by a plate, which is also coated with a hydrogen recombination catalyst. The plate becomes hot by the same catalytic oxidation reaction in the presence of air containing hydrogen.

An igniter apparatus which generates a high speed buoyancy induced vortex to funnel hydrogen and air from the surrounding onto the igniter core where an igniter core heats up to the auto ignition temperature by the exothermic catalytic oxidation of hydrogen on its surface. Water (vapor) is formed as the product, which inhibits the oxidation reaction, if not stripped away from the catalyst surface. The high velocity of the vortex ensures the stripping of the boundary layer of steam that is formed by the reaction, thus ensuring more active sites are available for hydrogen oxidation. The vortex is formed by channeling an upward draft into a vortex by guided fins. The upward draft is formed by a plate, which is also coated with a hydrogen recombination catalyst. The plate becomes hot by the same catalytic oxidation reaction in the presence of air containing hydrogen.

A catalytic recombiner and filter apparatus is especially suited for placement in a containment of a nuclear reactor. The apparatus has a natural convection flow duct with a number of catalytic elements for recombining hydrogen and oxygen contained in a gas flow through the flow duct. The catalytic recombiner and filter apparatus provides for reliable hydrogen reduction and iodine filtering for a gas flow even for a comparatively long period of operation. The catalytic recombiner and filter apparatus includes a number of adsorber elements with iodine adsorbing surfaces and with macroscopic flow channels in between. The iodine adsorbing surfaces are flown over by the gas flow, and the adsorber elements are arranged, when in use, downstream of the catalytic elements in a direction of the gas flow.