Verification of fire and explosion accident analysis codes (facility design and preliminary results)

Conference · Tue Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1985

OSTI ID:5094165

Gregory, W S; Nichols, B D; Talbott, D V; Smith, P R; Fenton, D L

For several years, the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission has sponsored the development of methods for improving capabilities to analyze the effects of postulated accidents in nuclear facilities; the accidents of interest are those that could occur during nuclear materials handling. At the Los Alamos National Laboratory, this program has resulted in three computer codes: FIRAC, EXPAC, and TORAC. These codes are designed to predict the effects of fires, explosions, and tornadoes in nuclear facilities. Particular emphasis is placed on the movement of airborne radioactive material through the gaseous effluent treatment system of a nuclear installation. The design, construction, and calibration of an experimental ventilation system to verify the fire and explosion accident analysis codes are described. The facility features a large industrial heater and several aerosol smoke generators that are used to simulate fires. Both injected thermal energy and aerosol mass can be controlled using this equipment. Explosions are simulated with H/sub 2//O/sub 2/ balloons and small explosive charges. Experimental measurements of temperature, energy, aerosol release rates, smoke concentration, and mass accumulation on HEPA filters can be made. Volumetric flow rate and differential pressures also are monitored. The initial experiments involve varying parameters such as thermal and aerosol rate and ventilation flow rate. FIRAC prediction results are presented. 10 figs.

• Research Organization: Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States); New Mexico State Univ., Las Cruces (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-36
• OSTI ID: 5094165
• Report Number(s): LA-UR-85-3345; CONF-851082-1; ON: DE86000811
• Resource Relation: Conference: European conference on gaseous effluent treatment in nuclear installations, Luxembourg, Luxembourg, 14 Oct 1985; Other Information: Portions of this document are illegible in microfiche products
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS
EXPLOSIONS
COMPUTERIZED SIMULATION
FIRES
NUCLEAR FACILITIES
TORNADOES
AIR FILTERS
GASEOUS WASTES
PRESSURE GRADIENTS
RADIOACTIVE AEROSOLS
RADIOACTIVE EFFLUENTS
TEMPERATURE GRADIENTS
TEST FACILITIES
VALIDATION
VENTILATION SYSTEMS
AEROSOLS
COLLOIDS
DISASTERS
DISPERSIONS
EQUIPMENT
FILTERS
MATERIALS
POLLUTION CONTROL EQUIPMENT
RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS
RADIOACTIVE WASTES
SIMULATION
SOLS
STORMS
TESTING
WASTES
WIND
220900* - Nuclear Reactor Technology- Reactor Safety