Platinum Catalytic Igniters for Lean Hydrogen-Air Mixtures,

摘要

The authors have developed a prototype catalytic igniter for lean hydrogen-air mixtures that could have important applications in nuclear reactor safety. The igniter has two useful characteristics related to these applications, it requires no electrical power and it can ignite mixtures as lean as 5.5 percent hydrogen. The igniter operates successfully under conditions that may be present during a loss-of-coolant accident (LOCA) at a light water nuclear reactor. In the event of a LOCA, large quantities of hydrogen may be produced very rapidly and the catalytic igniter could provide a means of igniting it before dangerously high concentrations are attained.