Analysis of the hydrogen safety of the NPP with a VVER-1200/V-491 reactor in a severe beyond design based accident

Abstract

The results of a computational analysis of possible modes of combustion of a hydrogen-air mixture in containment during the evolution of a severe beyond design basis accident (BDBA) with the COCOSYS code are presented. The containment of the NPP with a VVER-1200/V-491 reactor was selected as the object of study. BDBA with loss of coolant occurs due to a break of the injection pipeline of the pressurizer system (LOCA DN179) and the simultaneous failure of all active channels of the emergency core cooling system (ECCS). The calculated parameters of the thermodynamic state (pressure and temperature) of the gas mixture are given, and the values of the concentration distribution of hydrogen inside the containment are presented. After calculating the hydrogen distribution and mixing in all compartments of the containment, an evaluation was made of the flammability of the mixture and the potential for self-ignition in the containment by using a three-component Shapiro-Moffette diagram. It was concluded that in BDBA (LOCA DN179 with failure of active ECCS) detonation of the hydrogen-containing mixture is excluded, and deflagration is possible only in the emergency compartment of steam generators with a pipeline break. Thus, the hydrogen risk mitigation has been achieved in accordance with the standards established by the Belarusian regulator, provided that the localization safety systems are operational in the event of hydrogen deflagration. And the efficiency of the hydrogen removal system from the containment using catalytic recombination is considered sufficient for the considered BDBA.