A steel tube with inner diameter of 6 mm and 10 m length was filled with radiolysis gas (stoichiometric H2-O2 mixture) at 70 bar for boiling water reactor simulations. Via a pneumatic valve, a venting line with similar cross-section and 2 m length, filled with atmospheric air, was connected.
For venting the tube, the valve was opened (fast) and an explosion occurred.
Explanation: Due to diffusion ignition in the leading shock, a flame flashed back into the pre-mixed reservoir and induced a detonation there. The tube system and involved measurement technique was destroyed. For safety reasons, the whole installation was set up in a protective container so that no person or other equipment was threatened.
To prevent a similar flashback, the following measures have been taken:
- The valve is opened slowly to avoid a major leading shock into the venting line.
- A special nozzle (Laval or similar) is mounted directly after the opening valve. This prevents shock reflections from entering the premixed zone.