High-Temperature Hydrogen Combustion in Reactor Safety Applications

The effect of elevated temperature on the limits of the various modes of combustion of hydrogen-air-steam mixtures is reviewed. The modes include spontaneous combustion, diffusion flames, deflagrations, and detonations. The existing data on high-temperature hydrogen combustion are reviewed, areas where uncertainties exist are identified, and the importance of these uncertainties are discussed with respect to reactor safety for four different accident scenarios.