Platinum catalytic igniters for lean hydrogen-air mixtures

Technical Report · Thu Sep 01 00:00:00 EDT 1988

OSTI ID:6877241

Thorne, L R; Volponi, J V; McLean, W J

We have developed a prototype catalytic igniter for lean hydrogen-air mixtures that could have important applications in nuclear reactor safety. The igniter has two useful characteristics related to these applications: it requires no electrical power and it can ignite mixtures as lean as 5.5% hydrogen. The ignition induction time ranges from 20 s to 400 s depending on the hydrogen concentration, gas flow velocity, gas temperature and relative humidity of the gas mixture. Induction times are shorter for mixtures with higher hydrogen concentrations, higher flow velocities, higher gas temperatures and lower relative humidity. The igniter operates successfully under conditions that may be present during a loss-of-coolant accident (LOCA) at a light water nuclear reactor. In the event of a LOCA, large quantities of hydrogen may be produced very rapidly and the catalytic igniter could provide a means of igniting it before dangerously high concentrations are attained; even in the event that electrical power required for conventional igniters is not available. The igniter has not been tested under all possible LOCA conditions. High gas velocities, water spray, steam and iodine-containing compounds may be present during a LOCA and will defeat the prototype igniter. However, shielding and semi-permeable coatings on the igniter could overcome these difficulties. A US Patent has been granted for the catalytic igniters described herein (US Patent No. 4,741,879). 14 refs., 10 figs., 2 tabs.

• Research Organization: Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC (USA). Div. of Engineering
• DOE Contract Number: AC04-76DP00789
• OSTI ID: 6877241
• Report Number(s): NUREG/CR-5086; SAND-88-8201; ON: TI89000470
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS
37 INORGANIC
ORGANIC
PHYSICAL AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
AIR
IGNITION
ALUMINIUM OXIDES
CATALYTIC EFFECTS
HYDROGEN
PLATINUM
CATALYSTS
DESIGN
LOSS OF COOLANT
MIXTURES
PERFORMANCE
REACTION KINETICS
REACTOR ACCIDENTS
REACTOR SAFETY
WIRES
ACCIDENTS
ALUMINIUM COMPOUNDS
CHALCOGENIDES
DISPERSIONS
ELEMENTS
FLUIDS
GASES
KINETICS
METALS
NONMETALS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PLATINUM METALS
SAFETY
TRANSITION ELEMENTS
220900* - Nuclear Reactor Technology- Reactor Safety
400201 - Chemical & Physicochemical Properties
360603 - Materials- Properties