Development and Verification of a Model of RVK-500, -1000 Recombiners for Modeling the Containment Shells of NPP with VVER by Computational Hydrodynamics

A model of a passive autocatalytic hydrogen recombiner (RVK-500, -1000) for use in hydrodynamic calculations of hydrogen transport and recombination processes in a VVER containment shell during a severe accident is described. The model includes calculation of the efficiency of the recombiner, the hydraulic resistance to gas flow through the recombiner, and heat losses owing to radiation from the casing of the recombiner. The model was parameterized and verified on experiments performed on a stand at VTI and INPK RET for hydrogen-air compositions with hydrogen volume fraction up to 10%. Good agreement was obtained between the calculations and experiments. Its simplicity and efficacy make it possible to use the model in hydrodynamic calculations of processes with recombiners in a real containment shell.