Effects of Ruthenium Release in Oxidizing Conditions on a BWR Source Term

2009 ◽  
Author(s):  
Atso Suopaja¨rvi ◽  
Teemu Ka¨rkela¨ ◽  
Ari Auvinen ◽  
Ilona Lindholm
Keyword(s):  
Pressure Vessel ◽  
Source Term ◽  
Reactor Core ◽  
Severe Accident ◽  
Ruthenium Oxides ◽  
The Core ◽  
The Standard Model ◽  
Reactor Building ◽  
Release Model ◽  
Scoping Studies

The release of ruthenium in oxygen-rich conditions from the reactor core during a severe accident may lead to formation of significantly more volatile ruthenium oxides than produced in steam atmosphere. The effect of volatile ruthenium release in a case a reference BWR nuclear plant was studied to get rough-estimates of the effects on the spreading of airborne ruthenium inside the containment and reactor building and the fission product source term. The selected accident scenario starting during shutdown conditions with pressure vessel upper head opened was a LOCA with a break in the bottom of the RPV. The results suggest that there is a remarkable amount of airborne Ru in the containment atmosphere, unlike with the standard MELCOR Ru release model which predicts no airborne Ru at all in the selected case. The total release of ruthenium from the core can be 5000 times the release predicted by the standard model. Based on the performed plant scoping studies it seems reasonable to take the release of volatile ruthenium oxides into account when assessing source terms for plants during shutdown states.

TRICO II Core Inventory Calculation and its Radiological Consequence Analyses

2016 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
J. L. Muswema ◽  
G. B. Ekoko ◽  
J. K.-K. Lobo ◽  
V. M. Lukanda ◽  
E. K. Boafo
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Element ◽  
Research Reactor ◽  
Source Term ◽  
Democratic Republic Of Congo ◽  
Reactor Core ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Severe Accident ◽  
Plane Crash ◽  
Reactor Building ◽  
Accident Scenarios

Two severe accident scenarios are investigated in this paper as they have never been considered previously in the safety analysis report (SAR) of the Congo TRIGA Mark II research reactor (TRICO II) in Kinshasa, the Democratic Republic of Congo. The source term is derived from the reactor core after two postulated accidents: (1) a large plane crash with total destruction of the reactor building and (2) full damage of one fuel element while the reactor building remains intact. Total effective dose (TED), after core inventory, and dose profiles to human organs are derived to assess the operational safety of the reactor. Results from the study will be used to upgrade the current SAR of the reactor as the reactor safety and licensing concepts are changing over the years; the knowledge and lessons learned from the past experience are being updated accordingly with the available data. TEDs to workers of the facility show that higher values are obtained at areas near the source term at the time of the plane crash accident, which dies out as quickly as the plume is carried away following predominant meteorological conditions at the site. The situation with one fuel element totally damaged poses no threat as far as radiation protection is concerned and reveals a maximum TED of 1.30×10−7  mSv at 100 m from the reactor core. This shows that the operation of this type of research reactor is reliable and safe.

A Research Reactor Source Term and Dose Results in the Event of a LOCA

2014 ◽  
Author(s):  
Charalampos Pappas ◽  
Andreas Ikonomopoulos ◽  
Athanasios Sfetsos ◽  
Spyros Andronopoulos ◽  
Melpomeni Varvayanni ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Research Reactor ◽  
Source Term ◽  
Dispersion Model ◽  
Ventilation System ◽  
Atmospheric Dispersion ◽  
Reactor Core ◽  
Forecast Model ◽  
Scale Model ◽  
Continuous Reactor ◽  
Reactor Building

The present study discusses the source term derivation and dose result calculation for a hypothetical accident sequence in the Greek Research Reactor – 1 (GRR-1). A loss-of-coolant accident (LOCA) has been selected as a credible accident sequence. The source term derivation has been based on the GRR-1 confinement performance where the inventory has been computed assuming continuous reactor operation. A core damage fraction of 30% has been considered for the calculations while conservative core release fractions have been employed. The radionuclides released from the reactor core to the confinement atmosphere have been subjected to natural decay, deposition on and resuspension from various internal surfaces before being led to the release pathway. It has been assumed that an emergency shutdown is initiated immediately after the beginning of the accident sequence and the emergency ventilation system is also activated. Subsequently, the source term has been derived comprising of noble gases, iodine and aerosol. The JRODOS computational software for off-site nuclear emergency management has been utilized to estimate the dose results from the LOCA-initiated source term that is released in its entirety from the reactor stack at ambient temperature. The Local Scale Model Chain in conjunction with the DIPCOT atmospheric dispersion model that is embedded in JRODOS have been used with proper parameterization of the calculation settings. Five weather scenarios have been selected as representative of typical meteorological conditions at the reactor site. The scenarios have been assessed with the use of the Weather Research and Forecast model. Total effective, skin, thyroid, lung and inhalation doses downwind of the reactor building and up to a distance of 10 km have been calculated for each weather scenario and are presented. The total effective gamma dose rate at a fixed distance from the reactor building has been assessed. The radiological consequences of the dose results are discussed.

scholarly journals Comparative Analysis of Severe Accident at WWER-1000 NPP with MELCOR 1.8.5 and 2.1 Code Versions

2020 ◽  
pp. 30-40
Author(s):  
O. Kotsuba ◽  
Yu. Vorobyov ◽  
O. Zhabin ◽  
D. Gumenyuk
Keyword(s):  
Comparative Analysis ◽  
Pressure Vessel ◽  
Reactor Core ◽  
Computer Code ◽  
Reactor Pressure Vessel ◽  
Severe Accident ◽  
Bottom Part ◽  
Control Volumes ◽  
Vessel Bottom ◽  
Reactor Pressure

An overview of the main improvements in updated version 2.1 of MELCOR computer code related to more representative mathematical modeling of complex thermohydraulic severe accident processes of core degradation, transfer of molten fragments to the bottom of the reactor, heating and failure of the bottom of the reactor pressure vessel is presented. The elements of WWER-1000 NPP computer model for the MELCOR 1.8.5 (control volumes, thermal structures and structures of the reactor core) that are reproduced for a reactor with the primary side, the secondary side and the containment are described. The changes implemented in WWER-1000 NPP model for MELCOR 1.8.5 to convert it to MELCOR 2.1 version that are mainly related to more detailed modeling of the reactor core and reactor pressure vessel bottom are provided. The paper presents the results of comparative analysis of severe accident scenario of total station blackout at WWER-1000 NPP with MELCOR 1.8.5 and 2.1. The comparison demonstrates good agreement between the main parameters’ results (pressure and temperature in hydraulic elements of the primary, secondary sides and the containment, temperature of core elements, the mass of the generated non-condensed gases and their concentration in the containment) obtained with these code versions for severe accident in-vessel phase. The identified differences in the time of core structures degradation and reactor vessel bottom failure are insignificantly affected by the behavior of the parameters in the primary side and the containment in the in-vessel phase of the severe accident and are related to more detailed modelling of the reactor core and bottom part of the reactor in MELCOR 2.1.

scholarly journals Conceptual Study on Recriticality Prevention Core Having Duplex Pellets with Neutron Absorber in Outer Core in a Fast Reactor

2019 ◽  
Vol 2019 ◽  
pp. 1-6
Author(s):  
Toshio Wakabayashi ◽  
Makoto Takahashi ◽  
Naoyuki Takaki ◽  
Yoshiaki Tachi ◽  
Mari Yano
Keyword(s):  
Fast Reactor ◽  
Reactor Core ◽  
Thermal Characteristics ◽  
Outer Core ◽  
Severe Accident ◽  
Monte Carlo Code ◽  
Core Concept ◽  
Neutron Absorber ◽  
The Core ◽  
Nuclear Data Library

In a fast reactor, we evaluated a new core concept that prevents severe recriticality after whole-scale molten formation in a severe accident. A core concept in which Duplex pellets including neutron absorber are loaded in the outer core has been proposed. Analysis by the continuous energy model Monte Carlo code MVP using the JENDL-4.0 nuclear data library revealed that this fast reactor core has large negative reactivity due to fuel melting at the time of a severe accident, so that the core prevents recriticality. Regarding the core nuclear and thermal characteristics, the loading of Duplex pellets including neutron absorber in the outer core caused no significant differences from the normal core without Duplex pellets.

Severe accident simulation for VVER-1000 reactor using ASTEC-V2.1.1.3

Kerntechnik ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 86 (6) ◽  
pp. 454-469
Author(s):  
S. H. Abdel-Latif
Keyword(s):  
Pressure Vessel ◽  
Nuclear Power ◽  
Fission Products ◽  
Reactor Pressure Vessel ◽  
Severe Accident ◽  
Potential Core ◽  
Safety Requirements ◽  
The Core ◽  
Active Safety Systems ◽  
Reactor Pressure

Abstract The station black-out (SBO) is one of the main accident sequences to be considered in the field of severe accident research. To evaluate a nuclear power plant’s behavior in the context of this accident, the integral ASTEC-V2.1.1.3 code “Accident Source Term Evaluation Code” covers sequences of SBO accidents that may lead to a severe accident. The aim of this work is to discuss the modelling principles for the core melting and in-vessel melt relocation phenomena of the VVER-1000 reactor. The scenario of SBO is simulated by ASTEC code using its basic modules. Then, the simulation is performed again by the same code after adding and activating the modules; ISODOP, DOSE, CORIUM, and RCSMESH to simulate the ex-vessel melt. The results of the two simulations are compared. As a result of SBO, the active safety systems are not available and have not been able to perform their safety functions that maintain the safety requirements to ensure a secure operation of the nuclear power plant. As a result, the safety requirements will be violated causing the core to heat-up. Moreover potential core degradation will occur. The present study focuses on the reactor pressure vessel failure and relocation of corium into the containment. It also discusses the transfer of Fission Products (FPs) from the reactor to the containment, the time for core heat-up, hydrogen production and the amount of corium at the lower plenum reactor pressure vessel is determined.

scholarly journals Influence of Modelling Options in RELAP5/SCDAPSIM and MAAP4 Computer Codes on Core Melt Progression and Reactor Pressure Vessel Integrity

2010 ◽  
Vol 2010 ◽  
pp. 1-11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Siniša Šadek ◽  
Srđan Špalj ◽  
Bruno Glaser
Keyword(s):  
Pressure Vessel ◽  
Reactor Pressure Vessel ◽  
Severe Accident ◽  
Primary System ◽  
Coolant Pump ◽  
The Core ◽  
Hydraulic Behaviour ◽  
Computer Codes ◽  
Vessel Integrity ◽  
Reactor Pressure

RELAP5/SCDAPSIM and MAAP4 are two widely used severe accident computer codes for the integral analysis of the core and the reactor pressure vessel behaviour following the core degradation. The objective of the paper is the comparison of code results obtained by application of different modelling options and the evaluation of influence of thermal hydraulic behaviour of the plant on core damage progression. The analysed transient was postulated station blackout in NPP Krško with a leakage from reactor coolant pump seals. Two groups of calculations were performed where each group had a different break area and, thus, a different leakage rate. Analyses have shown that MAAP4 results were more sensitive to varying thermal hydraulic conditions in the primary system. User-defined parameters had to be carefully selected when the MAAP4 model was developed, in contrast to the RELAP5/SCDAPSIM model where those parameters did not have any significant impact on final results.

scholarly journals Source Term Derivation and Radioactive Release Evaluation for JRTR Research Reactor under Severe Accident

2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 ◽  
pp. 1-9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ned Xoubi
Keyword(s):  
Research Reactor ◽  
Source Term ◽  
Atmospheric Dispersion ◽  
Reactor Core ◽  
Fission Products ◽  
Severe Accident ◽  
Safety Standards ◽  
Gaussian Plume ◽  
Public Exposure ◽  
Radioactive Release

The source term for the JRTR research reactor is derived under an assumed hypothetical severe accident resulting in generation of the most severe consequences. The reactor core is modeled based on the reactor technical design specifications, and the fission products inventory is calculated by using the SCALE/TRITON depletion sequence to perform burnup and decay analyses via coupling the NEWT 2-D transport lattice code to the ORIGEN-S fuel depletion code. Fifty radioisotopes contributed to the evaluation, resulting in a source term of 3.7 × 1014 Bq. Atmospheric dispersion was evaluated using the Gaussian plume model via the HOTSPOT code. The plume centerline total effective dose (TED) was found to exceed the IAEA limits for occupational exposure of 0.02 Sv; the results showed that the maximum dose is 200 Sv within 200 m from the reactor, under all the weather stability classes, after which it starts to decrease with distance, reaching 0.1 Sv at 1 km from the reactor. The radiation dose plume centerlines continue to the exceed international basic safety standards annual limit of 1 mSv for public exposure, up to 80 km from the reactor.

scholarly journals FISSION-PRODUCT RELEASES FROM A PHWR TERMINAL DEBRIS BED

2016 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 95-105 ◽  
Author(s):  
M.J. Brown ◽  
D.G. Bailey
Keyword(s):  
Fission Product ◽  
Heavy Water ◽  
Fission Products ◽  
Severe Accident ◽  
Water Reactor ◽  
Decay Heat ◽  
The Core ◽  
Heavy Water Reactor ◽  
Release Model ◽  
Tank Water

During an unmitigated severe accident in a pressurized heavy water reactor (PHWR) with horizontal fuel channels, the core may disassemble and relocate to the bottom of the calandria vessel. The resulting heterogeneous in-vessel terminal debris bed (TDB) would likely be quenched by any remaining moderator, and some of the decay heat would be conducted through the calandria vessel shell to the surrounding reactor vault or shield tank water. As the moderator boiled off, the solid debris bed would transform into a more homogeneous molten corium pool located between top and bottom crusts. Until recently, the severe accident code MAAP-CANDU assumed that unreleased volatile and semi-volatile fission products remained in the TDB until after calandria vessel failure, due to low diffusivity through the top crust and the lack of gases or steam to flush released fission products from the debris. However, national and international experimental results indicate this assumption is unlikely; instead, high- and medium-volatility fission products would be released from a molten debris pool, and their volatility and transport should be taken into account in TDB modelling. The resulting change in the distribution of fission products within the reactor and containment, and the associated decay heat, can have significant effects upon the progression of the accident and fission-product releases to the environment. This article describes a postulated PHWR severe accident progression to generate a TDB and the effects of fission-product releases from the terminal debris, using the simple release model in the MAAP-CANDU severe accident code. It also provides insights from various experimental programs related to fission-product releases from core debris, and their applicability to the MAAP-CANDU TDB model.

The CANDLE burnup strategy applied to small modular pressurized water reactor loading with fully ceramic microencapsulated fuel

Kerntechnik ◽  
2022 ◽  
Vol 0 (0) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jinfeng Huang ◽  
Jiaming Jiang
Keyword(s):  
Equilibrium State ◽  
Power Plants ◽  
Reactor Core ◽  
Severe Accident ◽  
Pressurized Water Reactor ◽  
Pressurized Water ◽  
Water Reactor ◽  
The Core ◽  
Core Height ◽  
Optimization Schemes

Abstract For post-Fukushima nuclear power plants, there has been interested in accident-tolerant fuel (ATF) since it has better tolerant in the event of a severe accident. The fully ceramic microencapsulated (FCM) fuel is one kind of the ATF materials. In this study, the small modular pressurized water reactor (PWR) loading with FCM fuels was investigated, and the modified Constant Axial shape of Neutron flux, nuclide number densities and power shape During Life of Energy producing reactor (CANDLE) burnup strategy was successfully applied to such compact reactor core. To obtain ideal CANDLE shape, it’s necessary to set the infinity or enough length of the core height, but that is impossible for small compact core setting infinity or enough length of the core height. Due to the compact and finite core, the equilibrium state can only be maintained short periods and is not obvious, other than infinitely long active core to reach the long equilibrium state for ideal CANDLE. Consequently, the modified CANDLE shape would be presented. The approximate characteristics of CANDLE burnup are observed in the finite and compact core, and the power density and fuel burnup are selected as main characteristic of modified CANDLE burnup. In this study, firstly, lots of optimization schemes were discussed, and one of optimization schemes was chosen at last to demonstrate the modified CANDLE burnup strategy. Secondly, for chosen compact small rector core, the modified CANDLE burnup strategy is applied and presented. Consequently, the new characteristics of this reactor core can be discovered both in ignition region and in fertile region. The results show that application of CANDLE burnup strategy to small modular PWR loading with FCM fuels suppresses the excess reactivity effectively and reduces the risk of small PWR reactivity-induced accidents during the whole core life, which makes the reactor control more safety and simple.

3D FEA Elastoplastic Structural Analysis of Hypothetically Cracked Monju FBR Core Support Structures

2014 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel Garcia-Rodriguez ◽  
Shinichiro Matsubara
Keyword(s):  
Structural Reliability ◽  
Reactor Core ◽  
Operating Conditions ◽  
Severe Accident ◽  
Support Structures ◽  
Element Analysis ◽  
The Core ◽  
Fea Model ◽  
3D Fea ◽  
Accident Conditions

In this work the structural reliability of the circumferentially cracked core support mount of Monju Fast Breeder Reactor (FBR) is analyzed using Finite Element Analysis (FEA). The 3D shell model employed was derived after detailed evaluation of the core support mount behavior with a specific 3D solid model. First, elastoplastic static analysis results show that, under nominal operating conditions, the overall structure would be able to survive a total loss of the core support mount. Second, using the double elastic slope method it was inferred that earthquake loading integrity could be warranted up to a crack representing more than 50% of the total circumference. Both results highlight the ample primary loading margins taken in the design of Monju’s reactor core support structures. Furthermore, the developed 3D shell FEA model will be applied to study other extreme cases such as those under severe accident conditions.

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