Summary of efficiency testing of standard and high-capacity high-efficiency particulate air filters subjected to simulated tornado depressurization and explosive shock waves
Pressure transients in nuclear facility air cleaning systems can originate from natural phenomena such as tornadoes or from accident-induced explosive blast waves. This study was concerned with the effective efficiency of high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters during pressure surges resulting from simulated tornado and explosion transients. The primary objective of the study was to examine filter efficiencies at pressure levels below the point of structural failure. Both standard and high-capacity 0.61-m by 0.61-m HEPA filters were evaluated, as were several 0.2-m by 0.2-m HEPA filters. For a particular manufacturer, the material release when subjected to tornado transients is the same (per unit area) for both the 0.2-m by 0.2-m and the 0.61-m by 0.61-m filters. For tornado transients, the material release was on the order of micrograms per square meter. When subjecting clean HEPA filters to simulated tornado transients with aerosol entrained in the pressure pulse, all filters tested showed a degradation of filter efficiency. For explosive transients, the material release from preloaded high-capacity filters was as much as 340 g. When preloaded high-capacity filters were subjected to shock waves approximately 50% of the structural limit level, 1 to 2 mg of particulate was released.
- Research Organization:
- Los Alamos National Lab., NM (USA)
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-7405-ENG-36
- OSTI ID:
- 5570221
- Report Number(s):
- NUREG/CR-4225; LA-10401-MS; ON: TI85011904
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
AIR FILTERS
EFFICIENCY
NUCLEAR FACILITIES
AIR CLEANING SYSTEMS
EXPLOSIONS
LOSSES
PARTICULATES
PRESSURE GRADIENTS
SHOCK WAVES
TORNADOES
TRANSIENTS
DISASTERS
ENGINEERED SAFETY SYSTEMS
EQUIPMENT
FILTERS
PARTICLES
POLLUTION CONTROL EQUIPMENT
STORMS
WIND
220200* - Nuclear Reactor Technology- Components & Accessories