Abstract: Activated carbon adsorption technique is one of the options for treatment of radioactive inert gases in nuclear power plants. This paper described the adsorbing theory of activated carbon for radioactive inert gases Kr and Xe, along with its main physical parameters. The result of performance tests under different operation conditions showed that the dynamic adsorption coefficient of activated carbon would be influenced by temperature, pressure, flow velocity and humidity of the treated gases. Excessively high temperature and humidity, as well as low flow velocity would have negative effects on the dynamic adsorption efficiency, whereas increasing pressure would be beneficial to the dynamic adsorption. This research result could be helpful to the design of the treatment system for waste gases in nuclear power plants. With the operation conditions properly controlled, the adsorption performance of activated carbon can be assured.

Key words: nuclear power plant, radioactive inert gas, activated carbon, adsorption performance