Flame-quenching model of the quenching mesh for H2-air mixtures

A deflagration to detonation transition (DDT) occurrence is one of the most important issues concerning safety during severe accidents in nuclear power plants because it can damage the integrity of the containment. It is possible to arrest the acceleration of a flame which can cause DDT by installing quenching meshes between the compartments. To evaluate the applicability of a quenching mesh to nuclear power plants, it requires a means to evaluate a flame arrest of a quenching mesh under a given combustion condition. The flame-quenching models developed by previous researchers were derived to fit the experimental geometry and to consider various thermal boundary conditions from a flame to the mesh wall. Flame-quenching tests were carried out at the 10% hydrogen concentration in a dry air by changing atmospheric pressure to 2.2 bar as the initial pressure. The quenching criterion of a quenching mesh with a 0.3 mm gap distance for hydrogen-air mixtures is established by using the experimental data. The flame-quenching models are also evaluated by using the experimental data. A flame-quenching model that can be used to evaluate a flame arrest for various hydrogen-air mixtures in nuclear power plants is proposed. (author)