ML19207A585

KAPL Evaluation of Radiolysis Associated W/Tmi Incident

ML19207A585
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Site:	Crane
Issue date:	05/31/1979
From:	Conine T, Krommenhoek D, Logan D ENERGY, DEPT. OF
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Text

-

i sc KAPL Evaluation of Radio 3vsis Associate:1 With The Three Mile Isinnd Unit-2 Incider.t By J. C. Coninc D. J. Kro' unhock '

D. E,uanuel Lugut.

14v 1979 7908210 g53 Enclosure (2) 6 79ggg3

Tnbli of Contents Pr."c I.

IIITEOLUC'J7074.

1 II.

CHECHOLOGY..

3 III. 2/.CI'JGROUU3 5

IV.

/.UfLYSIS.

S V.

COUCLUSION.....

6 VI.

REFEREUCE3.

6 7

Figure 1.

8 Figure 2..

.s i

34 y$ z,h a%YK t

t.

I.

INTHODUCTIO'

~*

Gubsequent to an $nci3cnt on March 28, 1970 at finit-2 of the Three Mile Island Power Plant, the Iiuclear c.c;.ul.atcry Co:nt.iscion (.'.C) "e-quested Department of Energy (LOE) accintance to anccca the accur.u-lation and explosive potential of a bubble within the reactor veccel.

Thic KAPL docur.cnt precents the chronology of KAPL radiolys$s parti-cipation with I;RC in the following arctic:

1.

Combustible l$mits for oxygen / hydrogen r.tixturcs 2.

Hydrogen permeation fro:.1 reactor vecrM.

3 Nature of initial non-condencibleu in reactor vessel 4.

Oxygen buildup rate in reactor vcasci Reactor radiolycin in the event of c main coolant pump failure 5

6.

Dissolved hydrocen reduction through the addition of hydret'en peroxide 7

Radiolysis within the contair aent building Thesc KAPL calculations rcquired many acccc.ptionc relative to plant paro7.cters and ucre perfort.:ed with conservative values of input para-motors to maximize hydrcgen.tud oxygen production.

II.

OF.E LC1Y Kl.PL acciatenco 07 rediolycic cycluation accociated with the Three I:ile Ialend Unit-2 lucident u. c initicLtd on Saturday. !'. arch 33, 2079 a

. to a request fro.1.E (Tt ) cco '., U. P. En" sl, !!R, an6 D. J.

perr 1;rc,. ac<.P. J.T.. L 3/31/'79). 'luin acticlunce was pre, vide.1 ab

...: c rimn ' ~ 9rcency con'l5',, ion". Prevnilcd a l dt:act co...unicatior. r c c --

3 t bl:: N'i 1,et'.'c.n,*.* -L cud the 190 m r *:i'/L..:1, cr; c.c.: =nt (hlecon,

'. C. :, c&,. 5

,. 'l l'. R. Vcnul an, i.._., 3/31/T i),

A m. try c th.1T.0 que r,tf onc, tm. oi que ation,1 '.'.' contact,.ni K/iP:, rccponce is civ,n bale.

1.

Uh.t are thc crolction and c'ciorc:M en prennuit fci hir.h prenst'e crycen, hydroc c:9 us,er mpor nixturos?

( 3/31./7',.

R. Ted e...

" '.nltr, fro c Kl.FL rpenscred Ihltc Tc.:

Ptation a l' r.e S 4

u.

/ 'pl$ cncc-cxplosion tecte vere trent,itted to ".CC.

ln ?or: ' Ic~

relttive to the TJi-2 renetor vennel condition or 1000-2, ;

• s non-con tncible cc': cr.d stor.m bubb')e et 1000 psir and 390o:

prrreidcJ by th - IZ'C.

'.A r. cenbuntion und co t.c.no. ; on lirG. 2 5; curen of hy.wc: n, c:L'acn, nn.1 u..Ler vcpar 5: clocel omnta L:

.ra cnw:n on 1? 3r a 1.

ftl % ~ a n..-

,~,3 Is k

[bN

2.

What la the car..po.d ti.'n of

,',r'n i n the babble 11: Li a a - t o r. e u r e)

(3 /31/P>,

• 4. Tecesco, HHC),

At the time this que:: tion usc received, N!?C had one estimte o ' M $

11, and 4"4 0, or very close to the combuntion 1.ir.ite.

NRC infor-2 2

mation indicated that the bubble was for:r.ed af ter reactor sera.i.

KAFL provided an upper bound for the oxygen / hydrogen rolcace rc'.e for an ascume:10.06 uattc/cm car =a heating.

' (~1% power) in tc.c liquid. The upper bound was baced on ma:5mu::1 thenretic'.1 relenae rate in a 2000 ft3 of liquid and gave ~50 ft3 of hydror.en and 0:,0 sen per day at 1000 psia nnd 300 4.

Thus, it uns not poccible to pccduce a large non-condensible bus 1c from radiolynic, and furthermore, the mixture uns eva3uated ac not co:nbuctible. The bubble unn pri-marily composed of hydrogen, uith lect tbnn l$ oxycen.

KApL experience with hydrogen /orygen mixturcs with strong discol';cJ gac return to the gemma flux racion shoved a streng hydrogen /o:: ccen recoabination mechanica. DTL ctai,cd that continuvi oporr.Lio:' e' the main coolent putepc is very favorable to promete recombinatia-of cny oxycen that r:ay have for;ad during the incident. Additiontl c11culatienc on oxyctn relcase ucre reportci to t?.C on 4/2/'/9 3

Ehat is the rate of non-cone ncible bubb3 e cro.-th due to radsol:..ir for c. 0.3/s po'.er decay heat 1crel? (3/31/T),

. Tedeoco,I C )

F/.FL calculated the.t tha rate of reactor vecnel bubbic creWh 5 -

3 cru the.n J o f t3,/ :.y.

fidait3 0;r 1 r.at e<, tit ate calce dier.. c. r -.

d 3can thru 1.0 ft / den vere provj ded to E!K-en 4/P/B.

101 e M e" 3

t$ cna ;i ndicated L:~., rr.iiol::cin vould represent an incirnj f5 2.

contribution to t'c bu'ible cro.', b.

S.

W.t are the conccquenec.: of veni.ing the bubb3 e fror rea.cter vt to the con'cein?.cnt 'auildj us'.'

(3/3]/'/9, n. Tedesco, '".c)

K!-pL calculatioco indicated the fo.lowin ;:

a) The bubble in the re.ntor vcc nel "cc not corbuctible.

b) 0xv;cn in the Lu'.Jalc vill recc: 'ain u:is i hydrerpn 'n a g:c.

fle; r,J'icn.

e) Trencfer of (g.a frc:a re:.ctor versel to containr xnt ' i31 ::.

containment hydro;;cn conecntrction by ~?.0,.'.

Blia'e INF" ccntaint.:.nt h:,: 3rc ~en van c.i'ecn an 1.ci ani 1.'/f, th 's U:nD o exceed the h'/> r.ydror;cn upuard flame propag.blon 31t. 4.t.

d) Equilibrirn disco 2 ved hyc.ro^,cn in prir c ' en:)l:

't

.n c c* e lated ac l'/03-2GM ucc/M fo, 10 '. i n : i hyd rec. ' n.i T'

c) The reactor veccel bubb3 c vill net c;toa due to radiol ci.

houcver, it vill expand on deprencu)3 ration.

f) A clou dec,as of the prJtanry coa! rc (en cpponed tc a r e a rapid depreccurinacion) uill result $ n n5 cni tiennt. I ed'.'.cti '

in reactor vessel bubble sj ne uith t he high calc 11't ed pr.e coolant diccolycd cormmtrt ' ierir.

b h>,t/1 d. l&..

)

(3i(y V i

=

9.

Wlnt -1:, t':e cyt.cnt c.T radiolyei c in cont ai nae' t, ir.dlJiuc7 (4/1/7), 5. Tcdcaco, ICC)

Based on the resultc of one primary coolaat ec:aplo used to ecta'..'ish energy deposition in tac water and an estiniated 100,000 gallonc of water in the contaircent the maximum hydrogen an't oxygen productior.

vac calculate.I to be 10 std ft / day in the 2,000,000 ft3 contaircannt 3

building.

6.

In reactor veccel hydrocen :encentration being reduced due to hy-(I /1/79, R. Tcdecco, liRC) dresen perscation?

t 0

l'APL data at 300 F, and applied to the 300 F assumed temperature or the reactor preccure vessel boudnary chowed hydrogen permention c

to ho inci nifica'al;.

C 7

Results of additional calculationc in response to question number 2 and 3 ure repori.cd on 4/2/79 to Butler, liac.

The colet0ntienc cubctnnticted initial canclucions that the reactor vcnsel trbble ua': cc poccd of very littic orfgen from radiolysis, l_PL ctat< d that Lc:c.2 hydrogen (0, rect::r than 1.0 sec/lg) should be L:cintcin ui in uic cocinA to r.upp enn subsec;uent crycca productir'.

E i,h 11.J ( Sti.Li nc cf <-d o 15[ of i b0 core in boiling,, it is neces.sery to '..t:ini:<. in hydro;, n c::c;:;c to nuppicas oxygen production.

C.

..t r re.m 'ciilicy liuits for use in hyC.rogen, oxycen mixtures

.. N E.), _ c nd 3C M' (h/2/7, U. A. Ilichl, Technical Advism; r q.pm u t., n7) i:/dw procj cal the ci ' exycca 15: ltc ac civen in question 1, an?

ab.o liH tt, for hyml.cn.

A concervative cet of fic:.cnbility li n s i. ur: Un :..ict of uc.tcr v,. gor vere 12,.:nuirica as follow:n -

+4 Th Volo;m

~

IIydrogen Oxyt,cn

@f (Rc: ainder Air)

(Remain 53r }iv'irorcr,

Up.tord Flrte Propact.icq

~T'

~'

^

o m,

pg %

inc'31u Y,.u1 G b

(,

L". ' on:_I.i oa 3 ~,

12 m

gm y.

Did an crplonion or detonation occur in contaitrent, end what a:

6"y reco:c. bin.,; ion mcchaninus in containtent? URC provided infarr..',

gw W

on cont' ' '.cnt pr'.3r.ura increc ce ( T' '

?$ ) 'oH en:. ninmat p -

crapler, c<

follou.,:

(!:/2-3/7% :

, 1.J )

S&

Sr-

.1

---

.s p > u ] L,-

_..I3

,(m -9 IM + Otherr On Ho Air W

2:'

D 2330 h/1/To

'/U.o R.0 P.a 0630 i+/2/79 79 9 17.0 2.4

.5:3 D61) 5_,

(v i

KAl'L supplied the following:

a) The casma, and beta induced recembination in the contain::.cnt building at 6000 r/hr reducca an ind tici hydrogen concentratio:

of P,5 by 0.1% per day.

b) The pressure inerca::e of 28 psi in the containnent buildin;;,

the decrease in contain cent prescurc, cad the decron c in ox:gca concentration are consistent with combustion in cont.ainnent.

10. Wht.t is the effect of paints, and organics in the contaitr.ic it en rtdiolysis? (4/3/79, Butler,Iil;c)

KA6 has no experience in this crea.

11.

What is dependence of radiolysis nn temperature?

(4/l,/79,But1cr, ImC)

Lover temperature increases oxygen product'. ;n, but still yields s:nall relcase rates for present assitied rr actor condition of 0.33 power decay heat. KAPL also preseni.e:1 results of additional cal-culations for 0.06%/pocci, no hydro;;cn in coolant, and 60 r.c ll/kgincoolant.

2

12. What is the crtent of radiolysis at 10 II.1 for each of the fcllevi r,:

(a) no hydrogen in coolanc; (b) di sch'.rge of conlant into cont;.5 m ment; and (c) no pricrtry coolant i' low? (h/S/79, F. Uitt, I;;0) a) Total !2axirara hydrogen und c:n,en prolur bion equr_lc.i$ s Ld 3

ft / day with lo$ of core in hoiling.

b) Based on coolant ser.ple nr:i:..t..1 h:7dro;;en c.nd o:rygen produci n.

equals 1 std ft3/ccy for loa,o.; c,ation:: of unter, c)

Tota] nomintra hydroacu t nd or, o. a production equale 10 c.d 3

ft /de,,,

13 Ubat is rtari:r.u i rate of recenbin:, bion of hydrogen in 250,C00 cr.D o:-

of containc.cnt liquid? (b/9/79, p. Ett,1m0) ha'ra;:i:s hydreccu recc..hj aat5 cn in liqui; ir calcult. d 0"

'. a >/C -

F.

ou c c L.-

. j o., _.,.,i..

', : > iat.'.1 byu.

C c ',W.ib:.. '., [.L O L A.N L QC.).! Ld, b.'.n.,.i Bd Ci $,

14.

F:a..t in a recc:..:..;:C hr.s c cn p ron i du rddition t3 the Pi""'t r ccolant to rceuce the dit:.olved h;.. ro an caatemrcticn cu' lat m

e..; d s::o]i _d m, ao3n recc... bin.vj a. cc 'ce: s u i ne prc.m cf U LLt C.C) aya occn ).. ror._d: '.

(4/9/T:3 l'J.FL did not provido a rocc~'"nd:.t5 on or infonr.:. tion on thic qvcstion.

IT' pro-d d< J infour.ts m en prev _otu experience en the effecte of hydrc3n p.roxie ca niiutdoun cheuistry tran -

( P ;I I:" 0 7'3 datca4/%).

sients in pre,surised uctcr rc: cto:

I't h." d !: ' c r". i t'.u t e r l et0.

ow evSt L a L ne i.h iL lL L v.. a.., C -.. w

• M' ' '.t '. -

,; A t h0cv 0%. ~'

La.)...

i COOlCnD acLifit'J Ca.d i'PF' fit'd

.) C V -' 4 DSDU h

I m g Ut a A u

=

III.

J', 'C'i W" MD Given the reactor conditionc, there were two possible sources for the bubbic, a zirconium-nater reaction or ruliol:;cis.

If the bubble for-riatJon was a consequence of a zirconium-vater reaction then the bubble voeld be cccentially 100)$ hydrogen, with no ic=.cdiate potential for explosion. Ifo rever, the potential wotdd gradually increase if a nct, deccy o ition radiolytic condition exicted within the core; oxygen vould then bc cdded to the bubble. On the other hand, tne potentic.)

for explonion vould be great if the bubble recttlted frem radiolysis.

In thic case, the bubble vould be 67,5 hydrocen and 33% oxy,;cn.

N!i -

tionally, :onditionc within the contain::ent bu11 ding were o.lco of concern cince primary coolant had been relcased into the building e.nd hydroCen had effervcceed from the liquid.

Whencycr water in crpo:ed to a radiation field it dicsociates into a nu!.hcr of chezaical cpecica, one of uhich is the hydrogan molecule.

The rc::ulting concentration of the varictis cp;cies is a concequer.cc of the nature (e.g., ne,utron, Gct.ua, etc.) and strength of the redi t-tion flux. Thcce species in turn react with each other in numercur chenical ccabinations. 'fnc.particular resetionc that are realized in thic chemical hinctics dependa pricarily on the relative concen-trations of tne specico.

Sc..u of the poccib]c reaction.9 fu rthe r produce hydrogca nolecitice, while othere produce rolecular oxy;cn.

If the thermal and hydraulic condition': in the irrnilatcd vol.r.e cr^

such that boilin; occurc, then the dj ur.oli J, troleculet o ? hy. "c e:'

and ozycon enn diffuce into the local 'mid e be rtr.rve'. Crc. c.

s irrediated volute by r.a'0 tra" ftr.

7here p ::: are then free fc-porcibic accuculation within th; :.ycter.i.

/.o ;

),5cnn of hydr:3..

a"i oxygen Gatas c= 'aa coriboutible or even une.t.uc.

p.:p a n...t r upon the gts conecntration, pr.a'.: prcasure g acted ic;r; a eo:.wr tien process cc.n achieva. mrcni'cudo rp to.. p r x -

.u. a. ;, b t:u.e. t initial prescure. By comparicon, dctonai. ion'esn p: oduce a,r# p: ' -

sure vell in execcs of IcVels produced dorir; ec:.:;uction ;.it; a

potentinl for a peak frc.ccure tpprcal..;ato y 53 zu:.:a t h inimic.1 prcc ctu e.

De c"cunu] ation of ecf x.:.tible mxi.te cs of L:mrc.~er = i c:; r - c:

.c _

avait'ed by controllin; th; cht_.jc:1 Einctic:,to pre" rut 1.e 10.

.t. -

of r;olccular o::ycen. Thic control is achiv.ud by c..intainur ' ' r.

hy6 ccn above a criticel cene:.ntre. tion in th: n-ir.ted volecc.

l'/.

/

Iicr.olution of the I'R0 irt"ir ca va-primarily c.chieved throu_,h a= U.:

uith a T.1.FL radiolycia cc...jncr pre..,rca.

A bc.':ie t,d al ur s construct'~m hn.>ir". m irradi ate d '. olu~c, a vrp^r i c ~,i on.

m.. a "rica.,, coolant -

ined ted rer.icn ac cho'T. ca Fi f.e-1 neN -We.

'uac cadcl was i F 0C '- -

1 A c:.] culatic ' ~ vi< N' n t'..e rr.ct'v-

'3

-' C:-

o,

'.a

.ii t-

.q,

t j

i.n' t'.

.0 l aurn c f

'.i.c lien-cGL.nf bh (YI C-d-

' U h3 N '

la

.r.., c c) to t h : Gr ~.~ G E' r.i',icn in Lccu..u.

L. Q, W-aG l

D bf h

-5..

a y

e g

s e

[f b

L'E

Since the actual coalitions uithin the reactor were not accurately kncim, the calculations ucre purpoccly biased to yield worst, cacc rcnolts.

Accordingly, calculationc for the initial bubble formation

~

ucro perior cd with the entire core voluce (estire.ted an 2000 cubic foot) in boiling, and no coolant flou. Thoce calculations perforced after flou rectoration cM ll ancured so c boiling, 10% of the core.

Additionally, the stripping coefficiens. (ccchanicm for removal of the caccc frc.1 colution) ucre evaluated at a factor of 8 times their beci; cr.th.mte valucc; thereby removing hydrocer. and oxygen from solu-tion at a hither than cy.pocted rate.

D:.tcrnination of the recombination within the containment vescel unc hund eticulated. Likcuisc, a determination of the hydrogen per-r.; abian frca the reactor vcscel to the containicent building van also htnd ccicultLcd.

V.

CTN'LU3 ION The calculatione diccucced in this doeunent ucre performed to acccus the potenti:G. for an erplecion of gaccouc mixtures of hydrogen and oxyrn uithin the TML-2 re '.ctor.

Such mixturec vould have been the con-rtqence of a radir. tion in'.uced not deco.nposition of the reactor cooJ.c nt (i.e., radiolycic). Sinco conditions within the reactor t.:re not ve ',

ucll kno.n, tim radio) $ir calculation:t vere perfow.ed uith concerve. vc value: of the significant input paru.ncters; i.e., valucc rhich tende" to produce hydro; cn and c iycen.

Evaluation of the eclculated recult inJ-icated no precon: e of a cc9u '.S c cinture of hydrogen and onycan uith$n the reactor, at any tire cubre.

to the initial fornc. tion of the non-condenciblec.

Additionhlly, thc potential for generating cuch uinuNc 6cereres ac the pen cr deca.,

l'urthcrmore, the rain source of radiatien in the chutdoun stuo ic.

1 C

u'c.ic'a ic fatorable for the reccabinatcon o f hydrocen and onyren.

radic.tdon unc clco cetimated to recombine the containment buildin;, m -

nnpheric hydrocen at an initial rete of-0.1% (by volm..c) per dey (t -:ci cn a concentrr_ tion of 24 initial h'.drogen).

V.C.

iW.TiK'T 1.

General Electric Reportn: HELO-lO32, by B. C. Slifer unJ T. G.

Petcrcon, " Hydrogen F1m.-cabilit-y cnd Durning Characteristics in II.M Contairnenta".

2.

Minnacota Univorcity, Minneapolin Dept. of Chemical Enginaerin:-

CCO-lO32-1, dated July 1555 b-/ D. M. Eenjr:.in end H. S. Isbin, "Eccc bination of Hydrogon cnd Oxycan in the Presence of Watcr Yapor Ur.dcr the Influence of Radiation".

b IJtrLa m h

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c. 7 i.o Isai.t. I a.> '.: no. t.,T:. v..e 05:

Dmlosion Tcrt R:cuits for Mirturcs of Hydrer en, 0:Utt '<. n, c_n.1 '..'c ter Vr.por in C10.;c'l (:c r. tai nort c.t $3'T.

_F.i rura J.

-(-

3 9[ 1 4 3 0 ~ ; I,

2' h

[

i

.~.

s.

Gaces 112, 0 2 Accw:v]nt;cd A

Doiling Removal of !!, 02 2

Prir.ary Coolan ? ove.9 Core H02 2 and Dissol.el If28 C' Radiationf%)

~~

Re.diolynia Cht..i e t.1 Kinctier liss Transfer

/ ool:n.t Returns C

Primar-H02 2 and Discolwd lip, 02 V

Prjnrry Coole.nt I..o Cric r c.1 le..t r..- t. c s II 0g 2 and Dir:r;olve'i 112, Og T!JJ-2 EAD70T.YSE 1:0D".L F3nurn 2

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