Semi-empirical Correlations for the Burning Velocity of Hydrogen-Air Vented Deflagrations

Abstract

Based on in-depth analyses of data generated from hydrogen-air combustion experiments conducted at the FLAME facility of Sandia National Laboratories (USA), the Department of Mechanical and Nuclear Construction of University of Pisa, developed the D EVENT code, as an original calculational method, to provide the flame speed and the burning velocity of a turbulent flame. Correlations development, assessment and limitations are discussed A better knowledge of the flame speed and of turbulent burning velocity is important because this information is needed as external input for containment codes used to predict the consequences in which a significant amount of hydrogen may be generated, transported and burned in containment. For severe accident were the core is damaged, the production of hydrogen could be very large and thereby increase the likelihood of hydrogen combustion. Correlations in existing containment analyses code currently underestimate the rate of combustion, mainly because these correlations were developed from small-scale facilities without venting. Vented facilities with intercompartmentalized geometries are more representative of nuclear plant containments.