Observations on hydrogen generation in the vicinity of the reactor cavity during the direct containment heating scenario

Conference · Thu Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1987 · Trans. Am. Nucl. Soc.; (United States)

OSTI ID:7118589

Ginsberg, T; Tutu, N K

The direct containment heating (DCH) scenario involves high-pressure ejection of molten core material from the reactor vessel into the region beneath the vessel and into various subcompartments of the containment building. The melt consists of oxides and unreacted zirconium and iron. The stored energy in the melt consists of the sensible energy and latent heat of the melt consists of the sensible energy and latent heat of the melt plus the chemical reaction energy of the various components that can react with either the steam or the oxygen within containment. The metals may first react with steam, if local conditions permit, and thereby produce hydrogen. The hydrogen may then burn at some later time at a different location in containment if conditions are appropriate for reaction. To predict the containment response, one must follow the motion of the melt through the various subcompartments of containment while computing the integrated release of energy from the melt to the containment atmosphere, the quantity of hydrogen produced during the time period that the melt is suspended, and the energy transfer to water in containment. Methods are being developed to integrate the various exchange processes into prediction of the pressure and temperature response of the containment building. This paper presents a discussion of several aspects of DCH phenomenology, relevant largely to pressurized water reactors (PWRs), based on the results of recent experiments and analyses.

• Research Organization: Brookhaven National Lab., Upton, NY (USA)
• OSTI ID: 7118589
• Report Number(s): CONF-8711195-
• Conference Information: Journal Name: Trans. Am. Nucl. Soc.; (United States) Journal Volume: 55
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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