FIELD

This disclosure relates to a thermal protection barrier. More particularly, this disclosure relates to a thermal protection barrier operable to extinguish/slow the advancement of a superheated flowing mass by capturing the flowing mass within a granular media layer of the protection barrier.

BACKGROUND

Various pyro-metallurgical processes require high-temperature thermal treatments to bring about physical and chemical transformation in materials. For example, thermite is well understood to cause an exothermic reaction between a metal and a metal oxide that can burn at temperatures of 2500° C. or greater. As a result, a thermite charge poses a significant threat to thermally sensitive systems and/or equipment that may be inadvertently contacted by the thermite charge. Similarly, superheated molten metals, such as a thermite charged flame, are often used to gain unlawful entry to secure locations.

In other situations, superheated flowing masses pose threats to surrounding areas. For example, during a loss of containment accident of a nuclear system, a superheated flowing nuclear mass has the potential to escape from the nuclear system. An uncontained flowing nuclear mass poses many threats to the surrounding area including radioactive contamination of the environment surrounding the nuclear system.

What is needed therefore is an effective arrangement of materials to provide an effective thermal protection barrier against superheated molten metals.

SUMMARY

According to one embodiment of the disclosure, a thermal protection barrier includes a base layer having a high melting temperature granular media disposed within the base layer, the granular media including free standing granules. A distributor grid layer having a plurality of spaced-apart distributors composed of a high melting temperature material is disposed adjacent the base layer dimensioned and configured to provide load bearing support to the thermal protection barrier prior to a breach of the thermal protection barrier and to divide and disperse a superheated flowing mass to the free standing granules of the base layer upon occurrence of a breach.

According to certain embodiments, the plurality of spaced-apart distributors of the distributor grid layer are formed at least in part of a nuclear poison material.

According to certain embodiments, the plurality of spaced-apart distributors are each spaced a substantially equal distance apart from each other.

According to certain embodiments, the distributor grid layer further includes a standoff material comprising a polymer foam disposed in the spaces between the plurality of spaced-apart distributors.

According to certain embodiments, the thermal protection barrier further includes a containment layer positioned adjacent the base layer on a side opposite the distributor grid layer, the containment layer dimensioned and configured to contain and substantially pack the free standing granular media within the base layer. In some embodiments, the containment layer is formed at least in part of at least one of carbon and a high melting temperature ceramic. In certain embodiments, the thermal protection barrier further includes a metal housing disposed around the base layer, the distributor grid layer, and the containment layer.

According to certain embodiments, the free standing granules includes a granular nuclear poison. In some embodiments, the granular nuclear poison includes granules formed at least in part of at least one of boron or gadolinium.

According to certain embodiments, the thermal protection barrier further includes a gas system fluidly connected to the base layer for delivering at least one of a fire suppressing gas for fire prevention or a fluidizing gas for fluidizing the free standing granules.

According to another embodiment of the disclosure, a method for protecting against a superheated flowing mass includes providing a thermal protection barrier including a base layer having free standing granules disposed within the base layer and a distributor grid layer having a plurality of spaced-apart distributors composed of a high melting temperature material disposed adjacent the base layer; and positioning the thermal protection barrier such that the distributor grid layer is positioned and configured to divide and disperse a superheated flowing mass to the free standing granules of the base layer upon occurrence of a breach of the thermal protection barrier.

According to certain embodiments, the method further includes delivering a fire suppressing gas to the base layer to suffocate a fire or prevent a fire from initiating during a loss of containment accident.

According to certain embodiments, the method further includes delivering a fluidizing gas to the base layer to fluidize the free standing granules during a loss of containment accident.

According to certain embodiments, the plurality of spaced-apart distributors are formed at least in part of a nuclear poison material.

According to certain embodiments, the nuclear poison material includes at least one of boron or gadolinium.

According to certain embodiments, the plurality of spaced-apart distributors are each spaced a substantially equal distance apart from each other.

According to certain embodiments, the distributor grid layer further includes a standoff material comprising a polymer foam disposed in the spaces between the plurality of spaced-apart distributors.

According to certain embodiments, the thermal protection barrier further includes a containment layer positioned adjacent to the base layer on a side opposite the distributor grid layer, the containment layer dimensioned and configured to contain and substantially pack the free standing granules within the base layer.

According to certain embodiments, the free standing granules includes a granular nuclear poison and the positioning step includes positioning the thermal protection barrier adjacent a nuclear system for dividing and dispersing a superheated flowing nuclear mass to the free standing granules of the base layer upon occurrence of a loss of containment accident to reduce the effective neutron multiplication factor of the nuclear mass. In some embodiments, the granular nuclear poison includes granules formed at least in part of at least one of boron and gadolinium.

