Citation

Zhang XL, Vantelon JP, Charpenel J, Malet JC. Fire Safety J. 1989; 15(6): 451-469.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1989, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

In the case of sodium release from a postulated defective pipe in the secondary loop of a liquid metal fast breeder reactor (LMFBR), safety analysis and civil work design require prediction of the thermodynamical consequences (atmosphere temperatures, pressure peak values) in the various places where the accident may occur. An experimental programme aimed to determine the energy exchanges during such an accident was developed in various shaped vessels.This work describes a study of the radiative exchanges between a downward sodium jet fire and the wall of the cylindrical enclosure where the experiment is performed.The chosen approach is a zone method appropriate to the present configuration, each zone is assumed to be homogeneous and grey. During an experiment the space surrounding the ignited sprayed jet is filled with aerosols, identified as sodium monoxide Na2O and peroxide Na2O2. Nevertheless, the absorption-emission properties of this medium, which are very important in the radiative calculations are, to date, not experimentally determinable. Only the choice of a range of values of the corresponding absorption-emission coefficient coinciding with the values generally encountered in the estimations of radiative fluxes produced by fires and sensitivity analysis permit calculations. Moreover, according to the visual observations, it has been assumed that the flame envelope of the jet volume offers a parabolic shape. Under these conditions, the comparison between calculated and measured radiative fluxes shows a satisfying agreement. However, a more detailed knowledge of the aerosol medium appears indispensable for further investigation and improvement in this area.