Experiment on evaluation of confinement capability of fuel cycle facility under combustion of combustible materials (Contract research)

To contribute on confirmation of safety of fuel cycle facilities, an evaluation method for soundness of confinement capability of the facilities under fire accident has been investigated. Organic extraction solvents, zinc stearate, which is added into MOX powder in MOX fuel preparation process, and typical lubricating oil were considered to be examination objects as the representative organic materials in the facilities. Combustion property data, such as mass loss rate and soot release fraction, of them and clogging property data of HEPA filter with combustion of the organic extraction solvents were measured. As the results, it was found that soot release fraction from burning 30%TBP/70%dodecane was larger than that of the other materials including dodecane and very rapid rise of differential pressure of HEPA filter, which has not been reported, would be induced in the last stage of combustion of 30%TBP/70%dodecane. Furthermore, it was confirmed that zinc stearate, of which combustibility has not been considered, burned continuously in the condition which was heated from outside. (author)