Thermal analysis of hydrogen combustion in a 1/4-scale boiling water reactor containment building

A mathematical model has been developed for the analysis of hydrogen combustion in boiling water reactor containment buildings. The overall phenomenon is similar to that observed in enclosure fires with the major differences being: (1) the containment building is hermetically sealed, and (2) diffusion flames form above a water pool at the bottom of the containment, through which hydrogen is released. The calculated results are compared with data obtained in tests performed in a 1/4-scale model of the containment building. The zone modeling approach, which was used in these calculations, has been demonstrated to be suitable for application to the combustion dynamics produced by the hydrogen flames in containment volumes