Evaluating Conditions of Ethanol Fire/Explosion Hazard in the LIS Facility

摘要

This document considers some of the physical conditions of a potential ethanol fire/explosion in the Laser Isotope Separation facility. The cause of the potentially hazardous conditions is assumed to be a leak or a spill from the dye-laser system of from its high-pressure ethanol supply pipe. However, neither a specific scenario, nor the likelihood of such a leak or spill, are considered. Some of the conditions necessary for an ethanol fire/explosion in the laser cabinet are considered. The fuel requirements for combustion, specifically the required ethanol fuel-release and vapor-generation rates are considered. In the second part of the report, the conditions resulting from a potential ethanol combustion in the laser cabinet - i.e., the resulting explosion pressure - and the venting requirements necessary to reduce the pressured to various levels are estimated. For these estimates, the ethanol/air mixture in the cabinet is assumed to be in near-stoichiometric proportions. 9 refs., 2 figs., 8 tabs. (ERA citation 12:013236)