Measurement of scrubbing behaviour of simulated radionuclide in a submerged venturi scrubber

It is observed that the overall pressure drop in the venturi scrubber increases with an increase in flow rate. The two phase axial pressure drop characteristics reveal an increase in the pressure drop in the converging section with increase in flow rate. The pressure drop also increases after the scrubbing liquid from the hydrostatic pool is suctioned and no recovery is found in the diverging section of the venturi scrubber. The iodine retention in the scrubber tank increases sharply with an air flow rates up to 2200 lpm after that the increase is gradual with the maximum of 95% retention at 3400 lpm. It is seen that in all the experiments the amount of iodine leaving the facility is negligible and the bulk decontamination is high. Further, effect of submergence height on the retention of iodine vapors in the scrubber tank is compared at 3 m and 4 m. It is seen that an increase in submergence height significantly increased the percentage of iodine arrested in the scrubber tank at 1700 lpm air flow but further increase in air flow rate has lesser impact on the iodine retention in the scrubber tank despite the increase in submergence height.