Patent Description:
In a number of pressure systems, undesirable non-condensable gases are generated. For instance, in pressurized water nuclear reactors, hydrogen is generated predominantly by a water radiolysis in a primary circuit of the active core as well as in chemical modes. Hydrogen generated in this way is dissolved in the primary circuit water and expelled in the form of bubbles in a place of the lowest pressure. In the primary circuit of a nuclear power plant, this place is mostly the water level in a pressurizer. Being a lightweight gas, hydrogen together with steam travels to the main safety valves located above the pressurizer to be separated there from the steam. If not removed, the hydrogen would form a cushion which:.

A number of hydrogen removal system solutions have already been tested in the pressurized-water nuclear power plants, with all of them suffering considerable wear rate and an excessive number of non-condensable temperature cycles, whereby requiring frequent inspections and/or repairs.

For instance, hydrogen removal from the primary circuit of nuclear power plants is addressed in <CIT>), which describes a solution based on special valves controlled in dependence on temperature similarly as in thermostatic valves. If hydrogen occurring in the mixture is removed, the mixture cools down, causing the valve to open automatically. As soon as hydrogen is removed, the mixture temperature rises, causing the valve to close. The disadvantage of this solution is the critical pressure drop between the valve seat and plug which causes the seat to wear soon and to lose leaktightness as a result. Moreover, the valve cannot be controlled externally. Another system for hydrogen removal through orifices is known from patent document <CIT>.

The above-mentioned disadvantages are resolved and reduced by the method and equipment for removal of the non-condensable gas from the pressure system according to this invention.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, a method is described for a removal of a steam-gas mixture consisting of at least one non-condensable gas and steam from a pressure system with a technology which separates the at least one non-condensable gas and steam from a pressure medium in a pressure system, wherein the pressure system includes at least two places of accumulation of the steam-gas mixture. According to the other aspect of the present invention equipment is described for a removal of a steam-gas mixture from the pressure system with a technology which includes at least two places of accumulation of the steam-gas mixture, making it possible to implement the above-mentioned method. For the purposes of this invention, the term "steam-gas mixture" means a mixture of at least one non-condensable gas and steam from the medium in the technology, while the term steam-gas mixture is also considered to be one where the proportion of steam according to the operating conditions of the particular technology can even be very small, such as approximately <NUM>% only. It is, however, obvious that the proportion of steam in the steam-gas mixture being removed can also be considerably higher. In the method and equipment according to this invention, the place of steam-gas mixture accumulation also means the point of steam-gas mixture removal, and both terms can be used interchangeably in the present application. The place of accumulation/removal of the steam-gas mixture is always the highest point in a certain technology section where the steam-gas mixture accumulates because the non-condensable gas is lighter than the steam from the given pressure medium and, therefore, it rises upwards. The place of the steam-gas mixture accumulation is connected through interconnecting pipe with a collecting pipe through which the generated steam-gas mixture is let out of the technology. Between the place of the steam-gas mixture accumulation and the collecting pipe, the equipment according to the present invention is provided with a throttling measurement orifice plate installed to ensure a required pressure loss between the steam-gas mixture accumulation place from which it is removed and the collecting pipe, and the said throttling measurement orifice plate also provides the required flow-rate in each branch of the interconnecting pipe between the steam-gas mixture accumulation place and the collecting pipe and keeps the required proportion of the quantities of the steam-gas mixture through the individual interconnecting pipes. For the purposes of this application, the quantity of the steam-gas mixture is stated in kg/h and means the mass flow-rate of the steam-gas mixture through the interconnecting pipe or collecting pipe in question. The collecting pipe is installed lower than the lowest point of removal of the steam-gas mixture is, and there is an energy reducer installed in the equipment according to the present invention at the collecting pipe outlet, designed to let out the pre-defined quantity of steam-gas mixture. The pressure system technology as mentioned above means, for instance, piping where the non-condensable gas is separated and the said steam-gas mixture is generated, or a vessel where this phenomenon takes place, and so on. The required pressure loss is ensured by the throttling measurement orifice plate by designing the individual throttling measurement orifice plates in all the branches of the interconnecting pipe with a throttling diameter creating at least a ten times higher pressure loss in each throttling measurement orifice plate than the pressure loss of the interconnecting pipe with the highest pressure loss, and the throttling diameter of each throttling measurement orifice plate simultaneously ensures at least the required removal of the steam-gas mixture from the given place of accumulation of this steam-gas mixture and also the observance of the required proportions of quantities of the steam-gas mixture from the individual steam-gas mixture accumulation places. By the pressure loss at the throttling orifice plate being at least ten times higher than that in the pipe with the highest pressure loss, the pressure loss in the individual interconnecting pipes/branches does not depend, for instance, on the different length, diameter or shape of the interconnecting pipe but, especially, on the throttling measurement orifice plate, whereby it is secured for the purposes of this invention that the differences in the pressure losses in the individual pipes are essentially negligible in comparison with the pressure loss of the throttling measurement orifice plate and, therefore, need not be taken into account any more. Still more advantageously, the equipment according to the invention has a throttling measurement orifice plate sized for at least approximately <NUM> times higher pressure loss than that of the interconnecting pipe with the highest pressure loss, and even more advantageously a throttling measurement orifice plate sized for at least approximately <NUM> times higher pressure loss than that of the interconnecting pipe with the highest pressure loss, whereby ensuring that all the interconnecting pipes together with their respective throttling measurement orifice plates show in essence an equally high pressure loss against each other irrespective of the pressure losses of the individual interconnecting pipes because the pressure loss of the interconnecting pipe proper can be neglected. It is also necessary that each throttling measurement orifice plate ensures both the flow-rate of at least the required quantity of the steam-gas mixture from the relevant accumulation place and the observance of the mutual proportions of the steam-gas mixture quantities let out of the individual accumulation points. As in the nuclear power plant applications, the differences in the pressure losses of the individual interconnecting pipes are mostly similar, as is the quantity of the steam-gas mixture accumulated in the individual steam-gas mixture accumulation places, it is possible to use, advantageously, throttling measurement orifice plates of the same diameter for these applications for all interconnecting pipe branches. In some applications of the equipment according to this invention or where different flow-rates are required in the individual removal points, however, throttling measurement orifice plates of different orifice diameters may be required.

The equipment according to this invention serves especially advantageously to remove hydrogen from the primary circuits of the pressurized-water nuclear power plants.

For the purposes of this invention, the term "pressure energy reducer" means a device used to let out a pre-defined quantity of a steam-gas mixture under a high pressure drop between the pressure energy reducer inlet and outlet. Therefore, the purpose of the pressure energy reducer is to ensure the required total steam-gas mixture flow-rate from all its accumulation places to the collecting pipe with the required pressure drop at the pressure energy reducer. The sum of the mass flow-rates through all the throttling measurement orifice plates in the interconnecting pipes equals to the mass flow-rate of the steam-gas mixture including the weight of possibly condensed water going through the pressure energy reducer. Thus, the total quantity of the steam-gas mixture taken from the above-mentioned pressure system technology is dependent predominantly on the pressure loss of the pressure energy reducer, and also on the pressure losses of the individual throttling measurement orifice plates.

Especially advantageously, the pressure energy reducer in the equipment according to the invention is represented by a system of throttling measurement orifice plates sized so as to make the pressure drop in each of them subcritical, whereby ensuring a long service life of the pressure energy reducer. Even more advantageously, such an energy reducer is equipped with an integrated filter to prevent fouling the orifices in the throttling measurement orifice plates.

According to another advantageous embodiment of the equipment according to the invention, the filter is a separate element installed upstream the pressure energy reducer.

Thus, it is obvious that the throttling measurement orifice plate in the equipment according to the invention can, as a result of its size, let through a greater quantity of the steam-gas mixture than that taken from the steam-gas mixture accumulation place during the operation of this equipment. The resulting quantity of the steam-gas mixture taken from the individual accumulation places is given in each interconnecting pipe by a combination of the size of the respective throttling measurement orifice plate and of the pressure energy reducer which controls the total quantity of the steam-gas mixture taken off. However, as already mentioned above, if the interconnecting pipe is damaged downstream the place of installation of the throttling measurement orifice plate, the quantity of escaping steam is reduced as against a situation of the throttling measurement orifice plate being absent.

In its advantageous embodiment, the equipment according to the invention contains at least one closing valve installed in the collecting pipe to stop continual removal of the steam-gas mixture containing a non-condensable gas temporarily by closing the above-mentioned closing valve if the equipment according to the invention is to be shut down temporarily, for instance in any of abnormal operation modes or for repair. Especially advantageously, the embodiment of the steam-gas mixture removal equipment according to the invention contains a remotely closable valve making it possible to shut down the equipment according to the invention remotely, e.g. by means of an electric-driven valve or a pressure-controlled valve. In such embodiment, the equipment according to the invention also makes it possible to change the capacity of the equipment relatively easily by installing a closing valve upstream the pressure energy reducer, meaning in the steam-gas mixture flow direction, to shut down the pressure energy reducer and, by exchanging the respective throttling measurement orifice plates in the pressure energy reducer, for instance, to change the capacity of the steam-gas mixture removal equipment according to the invention or the replace damaged throttling measurement orifice plates in the pressure energy reducer, etc. Requirement to close the pressure system can also occur, for instance, in case of any of the emergency states in which the consumption of the electric heater in the pressurizer has to be reduced. In some embodiments of the equipment according to this invention, especially if pressure downstream the pressure energy reducer is higher than the atmospheric one, it may be advisable to install a second closing valve downstream the pressure energy reducer to allow dismantling the pressure energy reducer.

The number of steam-gas mixture accumulation places from which a non-condensable gas has to be removed is unlimited in substance; for instance, in the VVER-type pressurized water nuclear power plants, there are approximately seven points where the steam-gas mixture has to be removed. The capacity of the equipment according to the invention can be sized for any quantity of the steam-gas mixture to be removed; for instance, in the above-mentioned pressurized water nuclear power plant, it is approximately from <NUM> to <NUM> per hour depending on reactor power, and it can be changed as needed by modifying the pressure energy reducer during the shutdown thereof, e.g. by exchanging the throttling measurement orifice plates in the pressure energy reducer, by replacing the latter, etc..

In its advantageous embodiment, the steam-gas mixture removal equipment according to the invention has the throttling measurement orifice plates equipped with filters to prevent the orifices in the throttling measurement orifice plates from being clogged. The equipment for non-condensable gas removal according to the invention has the throttling measurement orifice plates installed always between the place of accumulation of the steam-gas mixture containing at least one non-condensable gas and the collecting pipe. Most advantageously, however, the throttling measurement orifice plates are installed as near as possible to the steam-gas mixture accumulation place to prevent steam condensation in the pipe upstream the throttling measurement orifice plate, while it is secured together with a suitably designed capacity of the pressure energy reducer that such a quantity of the steam-gas mixture is removed continually from the individual steam-gas mixture accumulation places through the respective throttling measurement orifice plates which corresponds with the steam-gas mixture quantity removed via the pressure energy reducer, which means that such a quantity of the steam-gas mixture goes through the pressure energy reducer which, on the one hand, ensures in essence the removal of all non-condensable gas generated in the individual steam-gas mixture accumulation places and, on the other, ensures the removal of the total quantity of the steam-gas mixture which went through the individual throttling measurement orifice plates, so that no excessive condensation of the steam-gas mixture occurs in the interconnecting pipe and in the collecting pipe upstream the pressure energy reducer.

The equipment according to the invention is of a robust design, and it is expected to provide a long lifetime.

The equipment according to the invention provides an advantage of continual removal of the steam-gas mixture and at least one non-condensable gas, especially advantageously hydrogen, which ensures that, for instance in nuclear power plants, the temperature of all components in the pressure system is kept near the one in the pressurizer, whereby preventing temperature cycling which affects component lifetime.

The equipment according to the invention has its individual parts arranged in a functionally correct order, i.e. one which ensures complete functionality of the whole system. They are the following parts in particular:.

The advantages in comparison with the present state of the art:.

The system embodiment is described below with reference to the figures, in which:.

To facilitate understanding the equipment for a removal of a steam-gas mixture containing at least one non-condensable gas according to this invention and the related method, examples are described below of its possible embodiments both for the steam-gas mixture removal method and for the steam-gas mixture removal equipment according to this invention. Although the present invention is described below by means of particular embodiments and with references to certain drawings, the invention is not restricted to the described embodiments but by the claims only. The drawings below are schematics only and are not intended to limit the invention to the embodiments depicted. For illustrative reasons, the drawings may show the sizes of some elements magnified and out of scale. The dimensions and the relative dimensions do not correspond to the actual reduction. Further, the terms "first", "second" and similar as they appear in the description and in the claims are used to distinguish between similar elements and are not necessarily meant to describe succession or temporality, space or superiority of one element over another, unless expressly stated. Moreover, although some of the embodiments of the invention described here contain some elements only but not the other ones, which, on the other hand, are contained in other embodiments, combinations of the elements from various embodiments are possible and form other embodiments than those described herein, which would be fully understandable to experts in the field.

<FIG> shows schematically one of the possible examples of embodiment of the equipment for removal of a steam-gas mixture containing at least one non-condensable gas according to this invention, installed in a pressure system technology which, in this case, is a nuclear power plant primary circuit pipeline and which generates a total quantity of approximately <NUM> to <NUM>/h of a steam-gas mixture, i.e. a mixture of steam and a non-condensable gas, being hydrogen in this embodiment example, where this total quantity is distributed evenly to seven places of accumulation of the steam-gas mixture. In <FIG>, the equipment according to the invention is arranged as follows:
The steam-gas mixture consisting of a non-condensable gas, hydrogen in this case, and steam, is removed from the pressure system technology <NUM> always at the highest point of the pressure system technology <NUM> where the said non-condensable gas accumulates; in the present example, there are seven steam-gas mixture accumulation places 1a in the technology <NUM>, which, in a nuclear power plant, for instance, is the pressurizer system where the non-condensable gas is separated from the pressure medium while simultaneously steam gets released to form the above-mentioned steam-gas mixture with the non-condensable gas to be removed. As already mentioned above, in this example of embodiment, the total quantity of the released steam-gas mixture containing a non-condensable gas in the technology <NUM> is approximately <NUM> to <NUM>/h. For the sake of clarity, it is pointed out that the above-mentioned pressure system technology <NUM> is not part of the equipment according to the invention. The equipment according to the invention is connected to the technology <NUM> in each place 1a of accumulation of the steam-gas mixture to be removed from technology <NUM>, and contains interconnecting pipe <NUM>, a throttling measurement orifice plate <NUM> always installed in the respective interconnecting pipe <NUM> downstream the point of its connection to the technology <NUM> in steam-gas mixture accumulation place 1a, a collecting pipe <NUM> connected to the interconnecting pipe <NUM> always downstream the throttling measurement orifice plates <NUM> in each branch of the interconnecting pipe <NUM>, and a pressure energy reducer <NUM> installed in the collecting pipe <NUM>. In this example of embodiment, as a rule, the same quantity of the steam-gas mixture is removed from each of the seven steam-gas mixture accumulation places 1a, i.e. approximately one seventh of the above-mentioned total quantity of the released steam-gas mixture, i.e. approximately <NUM> to <NUM>/h. In this example of embodiment, the throttling measurement orifice plate <NUM> is dismountable and it contains an integrated filter 2a to prevent the orifice regulating pressure loss in the throttling measurement orifice plate <NUM> from clogging. In this example, the throttling measurement orifice plate <NUM> is located as near as possible downstream the steam-gas mixture accumulation place 1a, i.e. downstream the removal point of the steam-gas mixture from the technology <NUM>, in which each of the branches of the interconnecting pipe <NUM> is connected to the technology <NUM>. The throttling measurement orifice plate <NUM> is located as near as possible to the removal point, i.e. to the steam-gas mixture accumulation place 1a, to prevent steam from condensing upstream the throttling measurement orifice plate in the interconnecting pipe <NUM> and subsequent choking up. Another advantage of this location of the throttling measurement orifice plate <NUM> is that it prevents steam from escaping in an excessive quantity in case of damage of the interconnecting pipe <NUM> or of the collecting pipe <NUM>. In the equipment according to the invention as applicable in a nuclear power plant, for instance, the suitable diameter of the orifice of the throttling measurement orifice plate <NUM> in each branch of the interconnecting pipe <NUM> is approximately <NUM>, which corresponds to a pressure loss of approximately <NUM> kPa at a flow-rate of approximately <NUM>/h, and the pressure loss in the individual branches of the interconnecting pipe <NUM> at this flow-rate is from about <NUM> to <NUM> Pa, being in essence approximately <NUM> to <NUM> times lower than the pressure loss of the throttling measurement orifice plate <NUM>. Thus, it is ensured that all the interconnecting pipes <NUM> show an essentially identical pressure loss. With this proportion of pressure losses, therefore, the decisive member of the resulting pressure loss is only the throttling measurement orifice plate <NUM> and the required flow-rate of the steam-gas mixture of approximately <NUM>/h through the throttling measurement orifice plate <NUM> is fulfilled at this pressure loss. As for the filter preventing the throttling measurement orifice plate from clogging, it has orifices of approximately <NUM> in diameter, whereby preventing clogging the orifice in the throttling measurement orifice plate. The throttling measurement orifice plate <NUM> is equipped advantageously with an integrated filter and is of a dismountable design to facilitate filter cleaning. The interconnecting pipe is inclined from the place 1a of steam-gas mixture accumulation/removal from the technology <NUM> to the collecting pipe <NUM>, which is located lower than the lowest steam-gas mixture accumulation place 1a, and also sloped outwards the equipment to ensure removal of potentially condensed steam from the equipment according to the invention.

The collecting pipe <NUM> is used to remove the steam-gas mixture from the pressure system technology <NUM> and is sloped to the pressure energy reducer <NUM> to ensure drainage of any steam possibly condensed in the equipment according to the invention. The pressure energy reducer <NUM> is used to set the total required flow-rate through the collecting pipe <NUM> of the steam-gas mixture which flows into the pressure energy reducer <NUM> through all the throttling measurement orifice plates <NUM>. Moreover, pressure is reduced considerably in the collecting pipe <NUM> at the pressure energy reducer <NUM> down to the pressure of the connected technology where the non-condensable gas is stored or processed otherwise. The pressure energy reducer <NUM> consists of a system of reducer throttling orifice plates sized so as to make the pressure drop in each of them subcritical, whereby preventing them from getting worn excessively. In this example of embodiment, the pressure energy reducer <NUM> is equipped with an integrated filter upstream the first of the system of the reducer orifice plates to prevent them from fouling with dirt contained in the steam-gas mixture. In this example of embodiment, the pressure energy reducer <NUM> is of a dismountable design with a side outlet. The embodiment proper of the pressure energy reducer <NUM> is not subject to this invention; for convenience, however, <FIG> shows an example of a possible embodiment of the pressure energy reducer <NUM>. In this example of embodiment, for the design flow-rate of the steam-gas mixture of approximately <NUM>-<NUM>/h and for an inlet pressure of approximately <NUM>-<NUM> MPa in place 1a and outlet counter-pressure of approximately <NUM> MPa in the place of connection to the pressurizer relief tank <NUM>, the pressure energy reducer <NUM> is designed with orifices in the reducer orifice plates at the individual stages of the pressure reducer from approximately <NUM> to <NUM> to ensure the required pressure drop, and the diameter of the holes in the filter is again approximately <NUM>, which is smaller than the smallest orifice of the reducer orifice plate. In every example of embodiment, the design of specific suitable orifices in the individual stages of the pressure energy reducer <NUM> is dependent on the composition of the steam-gas mixture, required flow-rate, inlet pressure, the number of orifice plates in the pressure energy reducer, and potential counter-pressure downstream the pressure energy reducer <NUM>. Design of the inner layout of the pressure energy reducer <NUM> and calculation of diameters of the individual orifice plates, however, are not subject to this invention.

The pressure energy reducer <NUM> can be of various designs including non-dismountable embodiments not allowing changing the capacity, embodiments not containing filters, etc..

In this example of embodiment, closing valves <NUM> are installed in the collecting pipe <NUM> upstream and downstream the pressure energy reducer <NUM>, and the closing valve <NUM> installed upstream the pressure energy reducer <NUM> is fitted with a remotely-controlled electric actuator <NUM>. Installing a closing valve downstream the pressure energy reducer <NUM> is not always necessary; for instance, low pressure systems can only have one closing valve.

From the pressure energy reducer <NUM>, the steam-gas mixture of reduced pressure is routed to the pressurizer relief tank <NUM> where the steam condenses and the non-condensable gas is let out for further processing, such as burning or storage, or to another facility/vessel designed to collect non-condensable gases.

The method of removal of a steam-gas mixture of at least one non-condensable gas and steam from a pressure system is as follows. The steam-gas mixture is generated by spontaneous separation of at least one non-condensable gas and steam from a medium in the pressure system technology <NUM>, while the non-condensable gas generated by separation, which is lighter than steam, is collected at the highest points of the technology <NUM> which, in this case, are two steam-gas mixture accumulation places 1a, and is removed from these at least two steam-gas mixture accumulation places 1a to a collecting pipe through which it is let out for further processing.

The said method is conducted so that the steam-gas mixture is removed from all the steam-gas mixture accumulation places 1a by ensuring the required pressure loss between the steam-gas mixture removal place 1a and the collecting pipe <NUM> in each branch of the interconnecting pipe <NUM>, which is at least <NUM> times higher than the pressure loss of the interconnecting pipe <NUM> with the highest pressure loss, and the throttling diameters of the individual throttling measurement orifice plates <NUM> are so designed to ensure the required flow-rates from the individual steam-gas mixture accumulation places 1a in the required proportion. In this example of embodiment, however, the quantity of steam-gas mixture generated in all the accumulation places 1a is equal, so all the throttling measurement orifice plates <NUM> are identical, as are also the pressure losses at the individual throttling measurement orifice plates <NUM>, namely <NUM> kPa, which is minimally approximately <NUM> times more than the pressure loss of the interconnecting pipe with the highest pressure loss, which is <NUM> Pa. Further, drainage of any water generated by steam condensation is ensured from all the steam-gas mixture accumulation places 1a from which the steam-gas mixture is removed, to prevent choking the place 1a with water, and water is drained by gravity between any removal point, i.e. the steam-gas mixture accumulation place 1a, and the collecting pipe <NUM>, after which the mixture of gas and steam is let out of the collecting pipe <NUM>. It would be obvious to an expert that the number of non-condensable gas accumulation places 1a can be higher than two.

<FIG> shows schematically another example of embodiment of the equipment according to the invention, which only has two steam-gas mixture accumulation places 1a. In the first accumulation place 1a, a quantity of <NUM>/h of steam-gas mixture is generated, while in the other place 1a the quantity is <NUM>/h. In this example of embodiment, the pressure energy reducer <NUM> removes a total of <NUM>/h of steam-gas mixture with inlet pressure <NUM> MPa and outlet counter-pressure <NUM> MPa. Pressure loss in the first interconnecting pipe <NUM> is <NUM> Pa, while in the second interconnecting pipe <NUM> it is <NUM> Pa with the above-mentioned flow-rates, which is why throttling measurement orifice plates <NUM> with a pressure loss of <NUM> Pa as a minimum have to be installed in both interconnecting pipes <NUM>. As the required sizes of the throttling orifices in the individual throttling measurement orifice plates <NUM> which should ensure the required proportion of the steam-gas mixture quantity passing through the individual throttling measurement orifice plates <NUM> correspond in essence to the square root of the required flow-rates of the individual throttling measurement orifice plates <NUM>, then, in this case of embodiment, the proportion will be approximately <NUM>:<NUM>, which means that in the branch with the required flow-rate <NUM>/h the suitable diameter of the throttling measurement orifice plate will be approximately <NUM> and in the branch with the required flow-rate <NUM>/h the suitable diameter of the throttling measurement orifice plate will be approximately <NUM>.

Otherwise, this example of embodiment is similar to that illustrated in <FIG>, with only the pressure energy reducer <NUM> used here not being dismountable and being fitted with a rear outlet for connection to the collecting pipe <NUM> in which it is installed. The elements identical with the equipment shown in <FIG> are identified with the same figure marks and are not discussed again in this example of embodiment. In this example, the equipment according to the invention is only connected to two separate steam-gas mixture accumulation places 1a in the pressure system technology <NUM> where the same quantity of the steam-gas mixture is generated in either of them. However, the technology <NUM> is not part of the invention and there may be more points of connection, such as <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, etc. Again, it contains interconnecting pipe <NUM> where each of its branches has a measurement orifice plate <NUM>, and each branch of the interconnecting pipe <NUM> is connected to a collecting pipe <NUM> to let out the steam-gas mixture. The collecting pipe <NUM> has a closing valve <NUM> controlled by an electric-driven actuator and, downstream (in the steam-gas mixture flow direction), a pressure energy reducer <NUM> fitted with a rear outlet for connection to the collecting pipe <NUM>, with another, manually controlled closing valve installed downstream the pressure energy reducer to shut down the pressure energy reducer for its maintenance, etc. The steam-gas mixture is then let out of the pressure energy reducer to a pressurizer relief tank <NUM> where the steam remaining from the steam-gas mixture condenses and where the non-condensable gas is separated and let out through pipe <NUM> for further processing, storage or disposal.

<FIG> shows schematically another example of embodiment of the equipment according to the invention, which is similar to that shown in <FIG> and, therefore, is only described briefly below. This example of embodiment also has two steam-gas mixture accumulation places 1a only in which the same quantity of steam-gas mixture, i.e. <NUM>/h, is generated. In this example of embodiment, the pressure energy reducer <NUM> lets out <NUM>/h of steam-gas mixture in total with inlet pressure <NUM> MPa and outlet counter-pressure <NUM> MPa. Pressure loss is <NUM> Pa and <NUM> Pa in the first and in the second interconnecting pipe respectively; therefore, throttling measurement orifice plates must be installed in both interconnecting pipes with a minimum pressure loss of at least <NUM> Pa. As the required quantities of steam-gas mixture removed from both steam-gas mixture accumulation places are identical, identical throttling measurement orifice plates will be installed in this example of embodiment to ensure at least the required flow-rate of the steam-gas mixture from the individual accumulation places, i.e. the suitable diameter of the throttling measurement orifice plate in both branches is approximately <NUM>.

The elements identical with the equipment shown in <FIG> are identified with the same figure marks and are not discussed again in this example of embodiment. In this example, the equipment according to the invention is again connected to two separate steam-gas mixture accumulation places 1a only in the pressure system technology <NUM>. However, the technology <NUM> is not part of the invention and there may be more points of connection, such as <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, etc. Again, it contains interconnecting pipe <NUM> where each of its branches has a measurement orifice plate <NUM>, and each interconnecting pipe <NUM> is connected to a collecting pipe <NUM> to let out the steam-gas mixture. The collecting pipe <NUM> has a closing valve <NUM> and, downstream (in the steam-gas mixture flow direction), a pressure energy reducer <NUM> fitted with a rear outlet for connection to the collecting pipe <NUM>. As the steam-gas mixture with a non-condensable gas is let out from the collecting pipe <NUM> directly into the atmosphere, no second closing valve is installed here as it is not needed.

<FIG> shows schematically another example of embodiment of the equipment according to the invention. This embodiment is essentially similar to that shown in <FIG> but it contains some different elements and, therefore, is described below in more detail. The identical elements are identified again with the same figure marks and are not discussed here further. The non-condensable gas forming a steam-gas mixture with steam in the technology <NUM> is always removed at the highest point of the technology <NUM> of the pressure system where this at least one non-condensable gas accumulates; in the present example, there are two places 1a and 1b of accumulation of a steam-gas mixture containing a non-condensable gas (the above-mentioned technology <NUM> is not part of the equipment), but it is obvious that there can also be more steam-gas mixture accumulation places in the technology <NUM>, e.g. <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, etc. In this example of embodiment, the equipment according to the invention is connected to the said two places 1a, 1b and contains interconnecting pipe <NUM> in each branch, a measurement orifice plate 2b always installed in the given interconnecting pipe <NUM> as near as possible downstream the place 1a, in which the equipment according to the invention is connected to the technology <NUM> for the reasons already discussed in Example <NUM>. In this example of embodiment, a separate filter 2a is installed between the place 1a, 1b and the throttling measurement orifice plate <NUM>. In this example of embodiment, the throttling measurement orifice plate <NUM> is not dismountable, with the separate filter 2a only being dismountable. The interconnecting pipes <NUM> are entered into a collecting pipe <NUM> installed lower than the lowest steam-gas mixture accumulation place 1a, 1b and are sloped from the place 1a 1b to the collecting pipe <NUM> to prevent steam potentially condensed in the interconnecting pipe <NUM> from choking the places 1a, 1b where the steam-gas mixture is removed from the technology <NUM>. A pressure energy reducer <NUM> is installed in the collecting pipe <NUM>, with the collecting pipe <NUM> also being sloped from the place of connection of the interconnecting pipe to ensure drainage of potentially condensed steam out of the equipment. Closing valves <NUM> are installed in the collecting pipe up- and downstream the pressure energy reducer <NUM>, and the closing valve <NUM> upstream the pressure energy reducer <NUM> is equipped with a remotely controlled actuator <NUM> to allow for equipment shutdown in case of an extraordinary state or failure, for instance. In this example of embodiment, the closing valve <NUM> downstream the pressure energy reducer <NUM> is not remotely controlled as it is closed manually only for works to be performed as necessary on the pressure energy reducer <NUM>. From the pressure energy reducer <NUM>, the steam-gas mixture of reduced pressure is routed to a pressurizer relief tank <NUM> where the steam condenses and the non-condensable gas is let out for further processing, such as burning or storage.

Another example of embodiment of the equipment according to the invention is shown schematically in <FIG>. It is essentially identical with that illustrated in <FIG>; because, in this case, the pressure system has a lower pressure of the medium and shutdown of the pressure energy reducer <NUM> is not required for repair or adjustment, no closing valve is installed between the pressure energy reducer <NUM> and the pressurizer relief tank <NUM>.

Claim 1:
Method of removing a steam-gas mixture of at least one non-condensable gas, especially a hydrogen, and steam from a pressure system technology (<NUM>) in which the gas and the steam are separated spontaneously, wherein the separated gas is lighter than the steam and accumulates in at least two accumulation places (1a), from which said steam -gas mixture is removed and routed through interconnecting pipes (<NUM>) to a collecting pipe (<NUM>), through which it is let out for further processing, wherein
- a pressure loss between the accumulation place (1a) and the collecting pipe (<NUM>) is created, for each of the accumulation places (1a), said pressure loss being at least <NUM> times higher than a pressure loss of an interconnecting pipe (<NUM>) with the highest pressure loss,
- a required proportion of the steam-gas mixture to be removed from these accumulation places (1a) through said interconnecting pipes (<NUM>) is set for each of the accumulation places (1a) from which the steam-gas mixture has to be removed,
- a liquid generated by a steam condensation is removed from each of the accumulation places (1a) into the collecting pipe (<NUM>) to prevent the accumulation place (1a) from choking by such liquid wherein said liquid is drained by a height drop between any of the accumulation places (1a) and the collecting pipe (<NUM>); and,
- a total quantity of the steam-gas mixture, which is required to be removed from the technology (<NUM>), is set in the collecting pipe (<NUM>)wherein also such a pressure drop is set in the collecting pipe (<NUM>) allowing to remove the non-condensable gas from each accumulation place (1a),
- removing both the steam-gas mixture and the liquid from the condensed steam from the collecting pipe (<NUM>).