Energetics of smelt/water explosions
Abstract
The purpose of this work was to obtain data on the energy conversion efficiency (thermal to mechanical) of steam explosions in large scale systems by analysis of smelt-water explosions in kraft paper pulp mill recovery boilers and dissolving tanks. Fifty recovery boiler explosions which occurred during the period from 1966 through 1985 were examined and energy conversion efficiencies were determined for 18. One dissolving tank explosion was also analyzed. Energy conversion efficiencies calculated as the ratio of the mechanical energy in the deformed structure to the thermal energy in the smelt were very low. The highest efficiency was 0.37%. Only four other explosions had energy conversion efficiencies greater than 0.1%. The remainder covered a 20 to 1 range from 0.005% to 0.1%. The kraft industries experience is thus that smelt-water explosions are inherently low efficiency events on a global basis.
- Authors:
- Publication Date:
- Research Org.:
- Institute of Paper Chemistry, Appleton, WI (USA); IIT Research Inst., Chicago, IL (USA)
- OSTI Identifier:
- 5036182
- Report Number(s):
- NUREG/CR-4745
ON: TI87900071
- Resource Type:
- Technical Report
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- 22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS; 21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS; BOILERS; AUTOHYDROLYSIS; BWR TYPE REACTORS; REACTOR ACCIDENTS; PWR TYPE REACTORS; EXPLOSIONS; MATHEMATICAL MODELS; PAPER INDUSTRY; REACTOR SAFETY; STEAM; ACCIDENTS; CHEMICAL REACTIONS; DECOMPOSITION; HEAT TREATMENTS; HYDROLYSIS; INDUSTRY; LYSIS; REACTORS; SAFETY; SOLVOLYSIS; WATER COOLED REACTORS; WATER MODERATED REACTORS; WOOD PRODUCTS INDUSTRY; 220900* - Nuclear Reactor Technology- Reactor Safety; 210100 - Power Reactors, Nonbreeding, Light-Water Moderated, Boiling Water Cooled; 210200 - Power Reactors, Nonbreeding, Light-Water Moderated, Nonboiling Water Cooled
Citation Formats
Grace, T M, and Robinson, R R. Energetics of smelt/water explosions. United States: N. p., 1986.
Web.
Grace, T M, & Robinson, R R. Energetics of smelt/water explosions. United States.
Grace, T M, and Robinson, R R. Wed .
"Energetics of smelt/water explosions". United States.
@article{osti_5036182,
title = {Energetics of smelt/water explosions},
author = {Grace, T M and Robinson, R R},
abstractNote = {The purpose of this work was to obtain data on the energy conversion efficiency (thermal to mechanical) of steam explosions in large scale systems by analysis of smelt-water explosions in kraft paper pulp mill recovery boilers and dissolving tanks. Fifty recovery boiler explosions which occurred during the period from 1966 through 1985 were examined and energy conversion efficiencies were determined for 18. One dissolving tank explosion was also analyzed. Energy conversion efficiencies calculated as the ratio of the mechanical energy in the deformed structure to the thermal energy in the smelt were very low. The highest efficiency was 0.37%. Only four other explosions had energy conversion efficiencies greater than 0.1%. The remainder covered a 20 to 1 range from 0.005% to 0.1%. The kraft industries experience is thus that smelt-water explosions are inherently low efficiency events on a global basis.},
doi = {},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/5036182},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {1986},
month = {10}
}