The chemical kinetics of the reactions of lithium with steam-air mixtures
This work involved the experimental and analytical determination of the consequences of lithium fires in the presence of steam. Experiments were performed to characterize the chemical reactions of lithium with steam-nitrogen and steam-air mixtures. Models were introduced in the LITFIRE code to describe lithium fires in the presence of steam inside the containment building and plasma chamber of a hypothetical fusion reactor. The code was also equipped with the capability to determine the effects of decay heat and lithium fire on the temperature response of the reactor first wall in the event of a coolant disturbance. Forty-two kinetics experiments were performed in which a stream of steam-nitrogen or steam-air was passed over and reacted with approximately three grams of lithium heated to a predetermined temperature. The lithium reaction rates with the constituent gases were measured and characterized for a wide range of lithium temperatures and gas compositions. Experiments were performed with steam molar concentrations of 5, 15 and 30% and lithium temperatures ranging from 400 to 1100/degree/C, inclusive. The LITFIRE code was modified to enable it to model the interactions of lithium with steam-air atmospheres. Results of the reaction kinetics experiments were used in the reaction model, and the heat transfer model was expanded to allow it to handle condensible atmospheres. Three groups of accidents were investigated: a spill on the containment building floor, a spill inside the reactor plasma chamber, and a spill inside the plasma chamber with steam injection to the containment building simulating a steam line break. The results were compared to dry air cases under the same conditions. 23 refs., 66 figs., 18 tabs.
- Research Organization:
- Massachusetts Inst. of Tech., Cambridge, MA (USA). Plasma Fusion Center
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC07-76ID01570
- OSTI ID:
- 5957180
- Report Number(s):
- DOE/ID/01570-4; PFC/RR-89-3; ON: DE89015788
- Resource Relation:
- Other Information: Portions of this document are illegible in microfiche products
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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37 INORGANIC
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PHYSICAL AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
99 GENERAL AND MISCELLANEOUS//MATHEMATICS, COMPUTING, AND INFORMATION SCIENCE
AIR
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
FIRES
L CODES
LITHIUM
STEAM
THERMONUCLEAR REACTORS
CHEMICAL REACTION KINETICS
CONTAINMENT BUILDINGS
HEAT TRANSFER
MIXTURES
REACTOR ACCIDENTS
REACTOR SAFETY
THERMONUCLEAR FUELS
ACCIDENTS
ALKALI METALS
BUILDINGS
COMPUTER CODES
CONTAINMENT
DISPERSIONS
ELEMENTS
ENERGY TRANSFER
FLUIDS
FUELS
GASES
KINETICS
METALS
REACTION KINETICS
SAFETY
700206* - Fusion Power Plant Technology- Environmental Aspects
400201 - Chemical & Physicochemical Properties
990220 - Computers
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