Nuclear systems

The occurrence of a number of severe fire accidents in nuclear facilities has motivated research activities to model combustion phenomena in these systems. The most publicized accidents are the electrical wire insulation (cable-tray) fire at the Brown's Ferry nuclear power plant and the hydrogen combustion event during the Three-Mile island accident. severe fires involving small radiation confinement compartments (glove boxes) and high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters have occurred in the Rocky Flats facility. Significant, but less severe, flammable-liquid fires have occurred in diesel generator rooms and turbines. This paper presents a summary of the combustible materials in nuclear facilities. It is important to analyze entire facilities to determine the transient pressure and heating loads due to combustion events on the containment or ventilation structures and safety-related equipment. These analyses are also needed to plan emergency evacuation, to validate existing fire protection programs or suggest changes, and to integrate fire safety with other safety analysis requirements. Fire-safety requirements are different for nuclear reactor containments than for nonreactor systems such as nuclear fuel cycle facilities