A simple novel analysis procedure for IVR calculation in core-molten severe accident

• Published in: Nuclear engineering and design Vol. 241; no. 12; pp. 4634 - 4642
• Main Authors: Zhang, Y.P., Qiu, S.Z., Su, G.H., Tian, W.X.
• Format: Journal Article Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier B.V 01-12-2011; Elsevier
• Subjects: Accident analysis; Accidents; Applied sciences; Controled nuclear fusion plants; Energy; Energy. Thermal use of fuels; Exact sciences and technology; Fission nuclear power plants; Fuels; Installations for energy generation and conversion: thermal and electrical energy; Mathematical models; Melts; Nuclear engineering; Nuclear fuels; Nuclear power generation; Nuclear reactor components; Nuclear reactors; Cooling; Accident; Nuclear power plant; Reactor vessel; Safety; Flooding; Depressurization; Modeling; Steady state; Light water reactor; Reactor core; Nuclear reactor
• ISSN: 0029-5493; 1872-759X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.nucengdes.2011.03.055

In-Vessel Retention (IVR) of core melt is a key severe accident management strategy adopted by operating nuclear power plants and advanced light water reactors (ALWRs), AP600, AP1000, etc. External Reactor Vessel Cooling (ERVC), which involves flooding the reactor cavity to submerge the reactor vessel in an attempt to cool core debris relocated to the vessel low head, is a novel severe accident management for IVR analysis. In present study, IVR analysis code in severe accident (IVRASA) has been proposed to evaluate the safety margin of IVR in AP600 with anticipative depressurization and reactor cavity flooding in severe accident. For, IVRASA, a simple novel analysis procedure has been developed for modeling the steady-state endpoint of core melt configurations. Furthermore, IVRASA was developed in a more general fashion so that it is applicable to compute various molten configurations such as UCSB Final Bounding State (FIBS). The results by IVRASA were consistent with those of the UCSB and INEEL. Benchmark calculations of UCSB-assumed FIBS indicate the applicability and accuracy of IVRASA and it could be applied to predict the thermal response of various molten configurations.