Influence of Sump on Containment Thermal Hydraulics: Synthesis of the TOSQAN Tests

2015 ◽  
Vol 1 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Emmanuel Porcheron ◽  
Pascal Lemaitre ◽  
Amandine Nuboer
Keyword(s):  
Nuclear Power ◽  
Severe Accident ◽  
Water Evaporation ◽  
Plant Water ◽  
Pressurized Water Reactor ◽  
Steam Condensation ◽  
Pressurized Water ◽  
Noncondensable Gases ◽  
Nuclear Core ◽  
Hydraulic Conditions

During the course of a severe accident in a nuclear power plant, water can be collected in the sump containment through steam condensation on walls, cooling circuit leak, and by spray systems activation. Therefore, the sump can become a place of heat and mass exchanges through water evaporation and steam condensation, which influences the distribution of hydrogen released in containment during nuclear core degradation. The objective of this paper is to present the analysis of semi-analytical experiments on sump interaction between containment atmosphere for typical accidental thermal hydraulic conditions in a pressurized water reactor (PWR). Tests are conducted in the TOSQAN facility developed by the Institut de Radioprotection et de Sûreté Nucléaire in Saclay. The TOSQAN facility is particularly well adapted to characterize the distribution of gases in a containment vessel. A tests’ grid was defined to investigate the coupled effect of the sump evaporation with wall condensation, for air steam conditions, with noncondensable gases (He, SF6), and for steady and transient states (two depressurization tests).

Study of the Ageing Effects on the Lower Head Failure in a PWR Reactor

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Lo Frano ◽  
S. Paci ◽  
P. Darnowski ◽  
P. Mazgaj
Keyword(s):  
Nuclear Power ◽  
Quantitative Estimation ◽  
Computer Code ◽  
Severe Accident ◽  
Symmetric Model ◽  
Pressurized Water Reactor ◽  
Pressurized Water ◽  
Term Operation ◽  
Ageing Effects ◽  
Lower Head

Abstract The paper studies influence the ageing effects on the failure of a Reactor Pressure Vessel (RPV) during a severe accident with a core meltdown in a Nuclear Power Plant (NPP). The studied plant is a generic high-power Generation III Pressurized Water Reactor (PWR) developed in the frame of the EU NARSIS project. A Total Station Blackout (SBO) accident was simulated with MELCOR 2.2 severe accident integral computer code. Results of the analysis, temperatures in the lower head and pressures in the lower plenum were used as initial and boundary conditions for the Finite Element Method (FEM) simulations. Two FEM models were developed, a simple two-dimensional axis-symmetric model of the lower head to study fundamental phenomena and complex 3D model to include interactions with the RPV and reactor internals. Ageing effects of a lower head were incorporated into the FEM models to investigate its influence onto lower head response. The ageing phenomena are modelled in terms of degraded mechanical material properties as σ(T), E(T). The primary outcome of the study is the quantitative estimation of the influence of ageing process onto the timing of reactor vessel failure. Presented novel methodology and results can have an impact on future consideration about Long-Term Operation (LTO) of NPPs.

scholarly journals Analysis of Release Model Effect in the Transport of Fission Products Simulating the FPT3 Test Using MELCOR 2.1 and MELCOR 2.2

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (14) ◽  
pp. 7964
Author(s):  
Alain Flores y Flores ◽  
Danilo Ferretto ◽  
Tereza Marková ◽  
Guido Mazzini
Keyword(s):  
Nuclear Power ◽  
Power Plants ◽  
Fission Products ◽  
Nuclear Industry ◽  
Severe Accident ◽  
Pressurized Water Reactor ◽  
Pressurized Water ◽  
Accident Simulation ◽  
Experimental Facilities ◽  
The Difference

The severe accident integral codes such as Methods for Estimation of Leakages and Consequences of Releases (MELCOR) are complex tools used to simulate and analyse the progression of a severe accident from the onset of the accident up to the release from the containment. For this reason, these tools are developed in order to simulate different phenomena coupling models which can simulate simultaneously the ThermoHydraulic (TH), the physics and the chemistry. In order to evaluate the performance in the prediction of those complicated phenomena, several experimental facilities were built in Europe and all around the world. One of these facilities is the PHEBUS built by Institut de Radioprotection et de Sûrete Nucléaire (IRSN) in Cadarache. The facility reproduces the severe accident phenomena for a pressurized water reactor (PWR) on a volumetric scale of 1:5000. This paper aims to continue the assessment of the MELCOR code from version 2.1 up to version 2.2 underlying the difference in the fission product transport. The assessment of severe accident is an important step to the sustainability of the nuclear energy production in this period where the old nuclear power plants are more than the new reactors. The analyses presented in this paper focuses on models assessment with attention on the influence of B4C oxidation on the release and transport of fission products. Such phenomenon is a concern point in the nuclear industry, as was highlighted during the Fukushima Daiichi accident. Simulation of the source term is a key point to evaluate the severe accident hazard along with other safety aspects.

Analysis of RCS Depressurization Effects on Containment Temperature for Qinshan Phase II Nuclear Power Plant

2014 ◽  
Author(s):  
Liu Lili ◽  
Zhang Ming ◽  
Deng Jian
Keyword(s):  
Power Plant ◽  
Nuclear Power Plant ◽  
Nuclear Power ◽  
Hydrogen Generation ◽  
Hydrogen Combustion ◽  
Severe Accident ◽  
Generation Rate ◽  
Pressurized Water Reactor ◽  
Gas Temperature ◽  
Pressurized Water

A severe accident code was applied for modeling of a typical pressurized water reactor (PWR) nuclear power plant, and the effects of RCS depressurization on the gas temperature of the relief tank cell in the containment during a station blackout (SBO) induced accident was analyzed. The sensitivity calculation indicated that the hydrogen generation rate obviously increased due to RCS depressurization in a critical stage. The results show that RCS depressurization can play an important role in hydrogen generation rate and total accumulation, and the temperature of the containment atmosphere is highly influenced by hydrogen combustion. High temperature induced by hydrogen combustion may degrade the equipment and instruments capabilities. Based on this analysis, a feasible strategy of RCS depressurization for mitigating the accident consequence is provided for developing the capacity of the SBO treatment of Qinshan Phase Nuclear Power Plant (QSP-II NPP).

Study of Equipment Survivability Under Severe Accident Conditions

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jinquan Yan ◽  
Shanhu Xue ◽  
Lin Tian ◽  
Wei Lu
Keyword(s):  
Nuclear Power ◽  
Severe Accident ◽  
Pressurized Water Reactor ◽  
Pressurized Water ◽  
Plant Safety ◽  
New Development ◽  
Nuclear Power Plant Safety ◽  
Accident Conditions ◽  
Accident Sequences

To improve nuclear power plant safety, severe accident prevention and mitigation for both new development and existing plants are generally required by various nuclear safety authorities worldwide. Although great efforts have been made, how to ensure equipment survivability under severe accident conditions is still a concern. This paper depicts an approach to demonstrate the equipment survivability under severe accident conditions by taking passive pressurized water reactor CAP1400 as an instance, including screening of severe accident sequences, determination of bounding environment conditions within containment, equipments identification used for severe accident mitigation and proposed test plan.

Utilization of NEK full scope simulator for plant operation optimization, nuclear education and engineering in 20 years

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matjaž Žvar ◽  
Tomaž Žagar
Keyword(s):  
Emergency Preparedness ◽  
Nuclear Power ◽  
Impact Analysis ◽  
Training Session ◽  
Nuclear Safety ◽  
Severe Accident ◽  
Electricity Production ◽  
Pressurized Water Reactor ◽  
Spent Fuel ◽  
Pressurized Water

Abstract This paper gives an impact analysis of utilization of NPP full scope simulator on operation parameters, training and education in nuclear power plant Krško. The Slovenian Nuclear Safety Administration issued their simulator decree to NEK in April 1995. The first training session on the simulator was performed in April 17th 2000 and since then the simulator has been used on daily bases to improve operator knowledges, skills and performances. At the time, this was the first full scope simulator with the capability to simulate Beyond design basis accidents (severe accidents). The ability to simulate core meltdown and containment breach made it very suitable for emergency preparedness drills. After the 2017 simulator upgrade, fuel meltdown in the spent fuel pool can be simulated using the Modular Accident Analysis Program – MAAP5. This capability is still unique for full scope simulators even today. The simulator is also used for pre-testing of plant modifications before their implementation on site or for just-in-time training for infrequent performed evolutions or for procedure development and testing. The Pressurized Water Reactor Owners Group (PWROG) used the NEK simulator in 2018 to develop the new set of the Severe Accident Management Guidelines, incorporated with a completely new usage approach. In all of these years, the simulator has been actively participating in the increased reliability and stability of the electricity production and in achieving NEK's vision to be a worldwide leader in nuclear safety and excellence.

On Different Break Section of LOCA Cases

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peiqi Liu ◽  
Tao Yu ◽  
Hongyan Yang
Keyword(s):  
Nuclear Power ◽  
Reactor Core ◽  
Severe Accident ◽  
Mitigation Measures ◽  
Good Time ◽  
Pressurized Water Reactor ◽  
Pressurized Water ◽  
Primary Loop ◽  
Severe Accidents ◽  
Unit Model

A typical 1000MW pressurized-water reactor (PWR) unit model of China’s living nuclear power plant (NPP) units is built based on MAAP4[1] in this paper. Different severe accidents cases caused by different LOCA area on hot leg of primary loop are studied. And different mitigation measures are focused to evaluated their effectiveness. The study indicates that during the accident, the larger broken area LOCA case caused the more severe rector core damaged. However, it is important to inject water into the reactor core in good time. And that can mitigate the severe accident progress effectively.

Assessment for Effect of RCS Depressurization and Reactor Cavity Flooding Using PSA Approach

2010 ◽  
Author(s):  
Changhong Peng ◽  
Ning Zhang ◽  
Pingping Liu
Keyword(s):  
Management Strategy ◽  
Nuclear Power ◽  
Safety Assessment ◽  
Systematic Approach ◽  
Severe Accident ◽  
Pressurized Water Reactor ◽  
Pressurized Water ◽  
The Past ◽  
Accident Management ◽  
Management Guidance

Probabilistic safety assessment (PSA) uses a systematic approach to estimate the reliability and risk of a nuclear power plant (NPP). Over the past few years, severe accident management guidance (SAMG), which delineates the mitigation actions of core melt accidents of an NPP, has been developed to support operators and staff in the technical support center in dealing with those misfortunes. It can be expected that the implementation of SAMG will reduce the amount of radionuclides released to the environment during the accident. The plant studied is a three-loop pressurized water reactor (PWR) with large dry containment. The RCS depressurization and reactor cavity flooding can be used as an accident management strategy. Then, the decrease of LERF (Large and Early Release Frequency) is quantified using PSA approach. It can be found that strategy of RCS depressurization and reactor cavity flooding can mitigate the result of severe accident effectively.

Analysis of Effects of Buoyancy Force on Steam Condensation With Non-Condensable Gases in a Rectangular Channel

2014 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xian-Mao Wang ◽  
Hua-Jian Chang ◽  
Li-Yong Han
Keyword(s):  
Mixed Convection ◽  
Buoyancy Force ◽  
Nuclear Power ◽  
Cooling System ◽  
Science And Technology ◽  
Rectangular Channel ◽  
Pressurized Water Reactor ◽  
Steam Condensation ◽  
Pressurized Water ◽  
Set Up

With the development of science and technology, some important passive features have been used in nuclear reactors, one of which is passive containment cooling system (PCCS). In the system, steam condensation plays an important role in removing heat from the containment atmosphere during a postulated accident. It has been found that during most time of an accident, the gas regime in the containment will be under natural and mixed convection. Advanced pressurized water reactor (CAP1400), designed by State Nuclear Power Technology Corporation (SNPTC) in China, is one of Chinese national science and technology projects. Since the PCCS has been applied in CAP1400, the study of condensation with non-condensable gases under natural and mixed convection becomes necessary. To have a deeper understanding on the phenomenon of condensation with non-condensable gases under natural and mixed convection, an experiment facility was set up by State Nuclear Power Technology Research & Development Centre (SNPTRD). The test section of the facility is a rectangular channel with one of the walls acting as a condensing plate. The effects of buoyancy force on steam condensation with non-condensable gases are investigated. Also, a CFD model is set up to simulate the process.

scholarly journals OECD/NRC PSBT Benchmark: Investigating the CATHARE2 Capability to Predict Void Fraction in PWR Fuel Bundle

2012 ◽  
Vol 2012 ◽  
pp. 1-10 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Del Nevo ◽  
D. Rozzia ◽  
F. Moretti ◽  
F. D’Auria
Keyword(s):  
Void Fraction ◽  
Nuclear Power ◽  
Volume Fraction ◽  
Numerical Models ◽  
Pressurized Water Reactor ◽  
Pressurized Water ◽  
Fuel Bundle ◽  
Hydraulic Conditions ◽  
Fraction Distribution ◽  
Engineering Corporation

Accurate prediction of steam volume fraction and of the boiling crisis (either DNB or dryout) occurrence is a key safety-relevant issue. Decades of experience have been built up both in experimental investigation and code development and qualification; however, there is still a large margin to improve and refine the modelling approaches. The qualification of the traditional methods (system codes) can be further enhanced by validation against high-quality experimental data (e.g., including measurement of local parameters). One of these databases, related to the void fraction measurements, is the pressurized water reactor subchannel and bundle tests (PSBT) conducted by the Nuclear Power Engineering Corporation (NUPEC) in Japan. Selected experiments belonging to this database are used for the OECD/NRC PSBT benchmark. The activity presented in the paper is connected with the improvement of current approaches by comparing system code predictions with measured data on void production in PWR-type fuel bundles. It is aimed at contributing to the validation of the numerical models of CATHARE 2 code, particularly for the prediction of void fraction distribution both at subchannel and bundle scale, for different test bundle configurations and thermal-hydraulic conditions, both in steady-state and transient conditions.

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