Large hydrocarbon fires in an old NPP

After several test series with successively increased fire power, oil fires were performed in the closed containment of, a decommissioned nuclear power plant. Within the free volume of the HDR reactor containment up to 8000 kW fire power was attained under conditions of natural ventilation. The division of the plant into a near field and a far field according to earlier fire effects has been confirmed. Of the high temperatures (up to 1600° C) prevailing in the fire compartment only ≈120-130°C reached the reactor dome. There were high convection velocities associated with rapid fuming in the entire building. Behavior of exhaust filters and ventillation ducts under real fire conditions were measured as well as the smoke entrace into pressurized rescue areas.