Hydrogen burn-off - for water cooled nuclear reactor containments by distributed sources of ignition

摘要

Water cooled nuclear reactors must be protected against the accumulation of hydrogen-air mixts. in its pressurised containment. This is done by burning off any hydrogen-air mixt. when it reaches the lower inflammability limit. All areas of the containment, where hydrogen can occur, are fitted with heater plugs, spark plugs or catalytic sources of ignition. This ensures in cases of trouble by cooling water leakage that no oxyhydrogen gas explosion can occur in a containment of a water cooled nuclear reactor.