Analysis of the Three Mile Island (TMI-2) hydrogen burn

Conference · Thu Jul 01 04:00:00 EDT 1982

OSTI ID:6652043

Henrie, J O; Postma, A K

A study of recorded temperatures and pressures was made. Hydrogen concentrations were calculated. Postburn average ambient temperatures versus time were calculated. Average temperatures were calculated for the region above elevation 347, below elevation 347, and within the D-shield compartments. Results were: Prior to the burn, the hydrogen was well mixed with the containment air. Average hydrogen concentration was 7.9%, wet basis. The hydrogen burn occurred at all three levels in the containment. The burn was initiated somewhere in the lowest level, probably on the west side. The burn time was about 12 s. About 3570 m/sup 3/ or 126,000 ft/sup 3/, 160 kg moles or 319 kg of hydrogen burned. Containment gas temperatures in the flame front were 760/sup 0/C (1400/sup 0/F). Average containment gas temperature at end was 660/sup 0/C (1220/sup 0/F). The gas temperatures decreased much faster below elevation 347 than above elevation 347. The average temperature rise was only about 1.2/sup 0/C (2.2/sup 0/F) as a result of the hydrogen burn. Considerably more energy came from the hot water and steam vented. The burn damage observed was predominantly at the upper elevations and on the north, east, and south quadrants. 1.1% hydrogen remained in the containment after the burn. Venting of the reactor cooling system during the hour following the burn added an additional 0.6%. Hydrogen concentrations increased from this 1.7% to about 2.2% between March 30 and April 2. One of two Rockwell hydrogen recombiners removed 112 kg of hydrogen. A total of 459 kg of hydrogen gas were accounted for. Assuming that 432 kg were generated by the zirconium-steam reaction, 9850 kg Zr would have been oxidized.

• Research Organization: Rockwell International Corp., Richland, WA (USA). Energy Systems Group
• DOE Contract Number: AC06-77RL01030
• OSTI ID: 6652043
• Report Number(s): RHO-RE-SA-8-Rev.1; CONF-830103-21-Rev.1; ON: DE82020725
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS
210200 -- Power Reactors
Nonbreeding
Light-Water Moderated
Nonboiling Water Cooled
22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS
220900* -- Nuclear Reactor Technology-- Reactor Safety
ACCIDENTS
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
COMBUSTION
ELEMENTS
ENRICHED URANIUM REACTORS
HYDROGEN
MASS
NONMETALS
OXIDATION
POWER REACTORS
PWR TYPE REACTORS
REACTOR ACCIDENTS
REACTORS
THERMAL REACTORS
THERMOCHEMICAL PROCESSES
THREE MILE ISLAND-2 REACTOR
WATER COOLED REACTORS
WATER MODERATED REACTORS