Hydrogen distribution and combustion in the containment of CANDU Nuclear Power Station

Since the accident at Three Mile Island in 1979, which produced hydrogen, resulting from about 50% of the fuel cladding reacting with water or steam, the potential failure of plant containment due to hydrogen burn has been the subject of the increased attention worldwide. The purpose of this paper is to identify the assessment methodology for those conditions during severe accidents that may lead to overpressure of the CANDU containment due to large-scale combustion. The following issues have been established: ignition source, flammability limits, combustion pressure, incomplete combustion and detonation cell width. (authors)