vapor suppression


vapor suppression

[′vā·pər sə‚presh·ən] (nucleonics) A safety system that can be incorporated in the design of structures housing water-cooled nuclear reactors: the space surrounding the reactor is vented into pools of water open to the outside air; if surges of hot vapor are released from the reactor in an accident, their energy is dissipated in the pools of water; gases not condensed are scrubbed clean of radioactive particles by the bubbling. Also known as pressure suppression.