Combustion Behaviour in the Moderator Cover Gas

Abstract

A combustible mixture of deuterium, oxygen, helium and steam may form in the cover gas space during postulated events such as an accidental loss of moderator. In order to analyse the likelihood of ignition and the potential consequences of combustion, should ignition occur, we need basic combustion data which we presently do not have. We have been doing experiments in our laboratory to determine some of the important combustion parameters such as flammability limits, ignition temperatures, burning velocities, detonation cell widths, transition distances and transition limits relating to the unique environment of the moderator cover-gas space of CANDU reactors. This paper describes some of the significant findings.