ML19289F913
| ML19289F913 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Crane  |
| Issue date: | 05/25/1979 |
| From: | Larkins J, Rib L NRC OFFICE OF NUCLEAR REGULATORY RESEARCH (RES) |
| To: | Kelber C NRC OFFICE OF NUCLEAR REGULATORY RESEARCH (RES) |
| Shared Package | |
| ML19289F911 | List: |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 7906210121 | |
| Download: ML19289F913 (3) | |
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f, UNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION Q*
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MAY 2 51979 MEMORAEUM FOR: Charles N. Kelber, Assistant Director for Advanced Reactor Safety Research Division of Reactor Safety Research THRU:
yN Louis N. Rib, Special Assistant Advanced Reactor Safety Research Division of Reactor Safety Research FRCM:
John T. Larkins, Nuclear Safety Engineer Experimental Gas-Cooled Reactor Safety Research Branch Division of Reactor Safety Research
SUBJECT:
RESPONSE TO COMMISSION REQUEST FOR INFCFNATION C'N FLAMMABILITY AND DETONATION LIMITS FOR HYDROGEN /
0XYGEN/ STEAM-MIXTURES AT ELEVATED TEMPERATURES AND PRESSURES In response to a request from Coccissioner Gilinsky on the flammability and detonation limits of hydrogen / oxygen / steam-mixtures, T. Murley, Director, Division of Reactor Safety Research requested that I see what information was available on this subject.
I have reviewed some of the literature and have had conversaticns with several experts on this subject. The limited literature search performed by me was primarily en selected publications covering the years 1935-1972. John Lunsford of Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory has been reviewing the literature frca 1070 to present. Neither of us have performed a detailed search; however, if this is desirable, Lunsford would probably not mind continuing cn this project.
None of tne information reviewed by us contained data specifically at 1C00 psi and temperatures between 2E0-LEC*F for H,,/0 /H,0 7
(vapor); hcwever, there is enough separate information at either elevated temperature or pressure and for H / Air /H O (vaper) to develop some 2
2 limits.
1.
In a hydrogen rich system at ambient conditions 5 6% oxygen would be required for deflagration (burning), however, this lower limit may not give a coherent flare (inccoplete burning).
Also, deflagration would require a strong ignition source at the lower limits. The effect of elevated temperature and pressure would be to lower the oxygen limit, however, 5% cxygen is probably still close to the minimum.
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Charles N. Kelber MAY 2 51373 2.
The detonation limit at 1000 psi and 2EG-550 F is going to be between 9-12% 0 for a hydrogen rich system with the 9% Icwer limit unlikelywithoukastrongignitionsource.
Knolls Atomic Power Laboratory report (reference 8) gave a 10,ver limit of 10% 0, for detonation in a hydrogen rich system at 550'F. The report did not menticn the pressure at which the experiment was run.
r 3.
There is probably no effect of water vapor below 7%; however, as the amount of water vapor increases above this value, the probability of an explosion decreases.
Flannability limits will not be affected until you get to concentrations above 25t water vapor. At 60%
water vapor, the probability of burning hydrogen and oxygen is zero.
4 It was noted by several experts that if oxygen were being generated in a hydrogen rich systen, that deflagration would probably occur prior to detonation if an ignition source were available.
I have listed several of the more important references at the end of this report. Also, a list of references covered in the literature search by Mr. Lunsford is available.
In conversations with experts in this area, it was pointed out that there are several facilities available for experiments on hydrogen deflagration and detonation including one at Ohio State University.
It is recomr. ended that if more exact information is required in this area that an experimental program be initiated.
Dm/e, c ~~'/ 3, I j.
sv, John T. Larkins Experimental Gas-Cooled Reactor Safety Research Branch x__
References:
1.
G. W. Keitholtz, " Annotated Bibliography of Hydrogen Considerations in Light Water Paver Reactors," ORNL-NSICl20.
2.
B. Lewi: and G. von Elke, " Combustion, Flames and Explosions of Gases," Academic Press, New York, 1961.
3.
D. W. Kuhn, F. L. Daley, et al, " Explosion Limits in Mixtures of Hydrogen, Oxygen, Steam and Helium," CRNL-Y-731,1951.
4.
R. L. Matthews, " Explosion and Detonation Limits for an Oxygen-Hydecgen-Water-Vapcr-System," KAPL-6564, June 1966.
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4 Charles N. Kelber MAY 2 51979 5.
B. C. Slifer and T. G. Peterson, " Hydrogen Flamability and Burning Characteristics in BWR Containments," NECO-10812, April 1973.
6.
H. F. Coward and B. W. Jones, " Limits of Flarnability of Gases and Vapors," U. S. Sureau of Mines Bulletin 503, 1952.
7.
T. H. Pigford, " Explosion and Ntonaticn Properties o' Hydrogen,
Oxygen, and Water Vapor," (ORNL 1322) August 1952.
S.
J. C. Conine, D. J. Krorcenhcek and D. Emanuel Logan, "KAPL Evaluation of Radiclysis Associated with the Three Mile Islanc Unit-2 Incident,"
M ay 19',' 9.
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