Explosions energy release

Monopropellant drops have been shown to be capable of detonating in a manner similar to liquid hydrocarbon fuels (Ref 11). With monopropellant explosives, energy release per unit volume of explosive is not limited by atmospheric oxygen however, energy release per unit weight is smaller than for fuels using atmospheric oxygen... 

A tank containing liquid water in equilibrium with a small amount of vapor at 25 bar suddenly ruptures. Estimate the fraction of liquid water in the tank that Hash vaporizes, and the explosive energy released per kilogram of water initially in the lank. 

The estimated maximum potential explosive energy release due to sodium voiding or core meltdown and compaction will not exceed the equivalent of 1000 lb of TNT. 

The curves on Fig. 1 show the results of calculations in which reactivity steps are inserted. Plotted as the ordinate is the available work (explosive energy release) resulting from the power excursion as a function of the... 

Fig. 3. Influence of neutron lifetime on explosive energy release.

With zero Doppler coefficient, the energy release increases approximately inversely as the square root of the factor by which the pressure is reduced a factor of 100 reduction in pressure causing an increase somewhat less than a factor of 10 in an explosive energy release. A brief... 

Fig. 4. Influence of equation of state on explosive energy release.

Fig. 7. Influence of power flattening on explosive energy release.

Fig, 9. Variation of explosive energy release with core composition. 

The explosive energy release (available work) calculation used to obtain the results presented in this chapter involves the assumption of an isentropic expansion of the vaporized fuel. This is a very pessimistic assumption, and calculations by Jankus (73) have indicated that, in some cases, the energy release would be overestimated by as much as a factor of 10. The results of the one experiment performed in this field, the KIWI experiment, support this estimate. Based on the data that have been released and discussions with W. R. Stratton of Los Alamos, it is estimated that the assumption of an isentropic expansion overestimates the energy release from the KIWI experiment by a factor of approximately 6. 

A spherical version of the basic equations used in the modified Bethe-Tait calculations is summarized below. The simplicity of this model (compared to the cylindrical model) makes it especially attractive for doing parameter studies. In addition, the results obtained with the spherical model compare favorably (see Section V) with those obtained using the more complicated cylindrical model. The set of equations given below includes a heat of fusion correction for the Doppler feedback calculations and a calculation of the explosive energy release. (The latter calculation is not coupled directly to the total energy calculation.)... 

An estimate of total explosive energy release is obtained by a separate calculation. This value is obtained by integrating the explosive energy distribution over the core. The relation between energy density (calculated from the kinetics equations) and explosive energy (IE) is given in Appendix B. This relation is curve-fitted in the following form ... 

Using Eqs. (A3.2) and (A3.4), the total explosive energy release from... 

Confined Explosions. Confined explosions occur when a flammable mixfure in a confined space is ignited. A typical example is the case of a flammable liquids tank. When these tanks are emptied, residu liquid may evaporate and form a flammable mixture in the tank. If ignited, a confined explosion would be produced. The modeling of confined explosion effects is analogous to the modeUng of BLEVEs. Here the explosion energy released is obtained from the enthalpy of combustion. 

This report addresses itself to an extension of a previous study the major addition being the consideration of systems with Initial void fractions. Doth herein and in the aforementioned work it is shown that for reactivity insertion rates postulated for such molten-fuel rccrlticality situations in fast reactors, the explosive energy release is very small and typically a few orders of magnitude less than the fission (thermal) energy release. 

Fision and Explosive Energy Releases of Pup2 imd Pu02-U02 Assemblies, G. E. Hansen, C. C. Byers. J. J, Koelling (LASL)... 

The fission and explosive energy release from criticality accidents involving liquid and metal assemblies has been well established from both accidents and experimentally induced excursion data however, very little work has been performed to date in dry or near-dry powder assemblies. Vfith. the possible advent of plutonium recycle it has become increasingly apparent that the upper limits of energy release for PuQi and PuOt-UOa assemblies similar to that found in nitrate to oxide conversion plants and mixed-Oxide fuel fabrication plants should be established. 

The fission and explosive energy releases were der termined with a hydrodyhamic-neutronic "code,. PAD ... 

In the event of the occurrence of a major accident, resulting in severe damage to the structure of a full-scale power reactor, the principal hazard would arise from the dispersion of the very large quantities of radioactive materials which accumulate over the life of the reactor core. It should be noted that the magnitude of any explosive energy release would be at worst only a very small fraction of that involved in the deliberate explosion of a nuclear bomb, which has to be designed very specifically to achieve a rapid conversion of mass to energy. 

The high power density of the LMFBR means that even a small local interruption in coolant flow could lead to the meltdown of part or all of the core. In the event of a large-scale core melt taking place, the high enrichment of the fuel raises the possibility of forming a supercritical mass or masses which could materially increase the explosive energy released in the accident. 

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