Reduction of the Damaging Effects of Hydrogen Combustion in Nuclear Power Plants

摘要

In a loss-of-coolant accident in a light water reactor, there is the possibility that hydrogen will form as a result of chemical reactions or radiolysis. If this hydrogen should burn in an uncontrolled manner, the combustion could threaten the containment and damage safety equipment required to control the progress of the accident. The seriousness of the effects of the combustion depends on the nature of the burn and the design of the reactor containment. To investigate reasonable ways to reduce or eliminate the damage caused by hydrogen combustion the Commission sponsors a program at Sandia National Laboratories known as The Hydrogen Mitigative and Preventive Schemes Program. The following schemes are being investigated in this program: (1) deliberate ignition; (2) deliberate ignition with pressure suppression; (3) deliberate flaring via steam:hydrogen jets and diffusion flames; and (4) modification of plant atmospheres. (ERA citation 09:035603)