scholarly journals Simulation and Analysis of Small Break LOCA for AP1000 Using RELAP5-MV and Its Comparison with NOTRUMP Code

2017 ◽  
Vol 2017 ◽  
pp. 1-13 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eltayeb Yousif ◽  
Zhijian Zhang ◽  
Zhaofei Tian ◽  
Hao-ran Ju

Many reactor safety simulation codes for nuclear power plants (NPPs) have been developed. However, it is very important to evaluate these codes by testing different accident scenarios in actual plant conditions. In reactor analysis, small break loss of coolant accident (SBLOCA) is an important safety issue. RELAP5-MV Visualized Modularization software is recognized as one of the best estimate transient simulation programs of light water reactors (LWR). RELAP5-MV has new options for improved modeling methods and interactive graphics display. Though the same models incorporated in RELAP5/MOD 4.0 are in RELAP5-MV, the significant difference of the latter is the interface for preparing the input deck. In this paper, RELAP5-MV is applied for the transient analysis of the primary system variation of thermal hydraulics parameters in primary loop under SBLOCA in AP1000 NPP. The upper limit of SBLOCA (10 inches) is simulated in the cold leg of the reactor and the calculations performed up to a transient time of 450,000.0 s. The results obtained from RELAP5-MV are in good agreement with those of NOTRUMP code obtained by Westinghouse when compared under the same conditions. It can be easily inferred that RELAP5-MV, in a similar manner to RELAP5/MOD4.0, is suitable for simulating a SBLOCA scenario.

Author(s):  
Eltayeb Yousif ◽  
Zhang Zhijian ◽  
Tian Zhao-fei ◽  
A. M. Mustafa

To ensure effective operation of nuclear power plants, it is very important to evaluate different accident scenarios in actual plant conditions with different codes. In the field of nuclear safety, Loss of Coolant Accident (LOCA) is one of the main accidents. RELAP-MV Visualized Modularization software technology is recognized as one of the best estimated transient simulation programs of light water reactors, and also has the options for improved modeling methods, advanced programming, computational simulation techniques and integrated graphics displays. In this study, transient analysis of the primary system variation of thermo-hydraulics parameters in primary loop under SB-LOCA accident in AP1000 nuclear power plant (NPP) is carried out by Relap5-MV thermo-hydraulics code. While focusing on LOCA analysis in this study, effort was also made to test the effectiveness of the RELAP5-MV software already developed. The accuracy and reliability of RELAP5-MV have been successfully confirmed by simulating LOCA. The calculation was performed up to a transient time of 4,500.0s. RELAP5-MV is able to simulate a nuclear power system accurately and reliably using this modular modeling method. The results obtained from RELAP5 and RELAP5-MV are in agreement as they are based on the same models though in comparison with RELAP5, RELAP5-MV makes simulation of nuclear power systems easier and convenient for users most especially for the beginners.


Author(s):  
Ronaldo Szilard ◽  
Hongbin Zhang

The current fleet of 104 nuclear power plants in the U.S. began their operation with 40 years operating licenses. About half of these plants have their licenses renewed to 60 years and most of the remaining plants are anticipated to pursue license extension to 60 years. With the superior performance of the current fleet and formidable costs of building new nuclear power plants, there has been significant interest to extend the lifetime of the current fleet even further from 60 years to 80 years. This paper addresses some of the key long term technical challenges and identifies R&D needs related to the long term safe and economic operation of the current fleet.


Author(s):  
Jay F. Kunze ◽  
James M. Mahar ◽  
Kellen M. Giraud ◽  
C. W. Myers

Siting of nuclear power plants in an underground nuclear park has been proposed by the authors in many previous publications, first focusing on how the present 1200 to 1600 MW-electric light water reactors could be sited underground, then including reprocessing and fuel manufacturing facilities, as well as high level permanent waste storage. Recently the focus has been on siting multiple small modular reactor systems. The recent incident at the Fukushima Daiichi site has prompted the authors to consider what the effects of a natural disaster such as the Japan earthquake and subsequent tsunami would have had if these reactors had been located underground. This paper addresses how the reactors might have remained operable — assuming the designs we previously proposed — and what lessons from the Fukushima incident can be learned for underground nuclear power plant designs.


Author(s):  
Claude Faidy

Two major Codes are used for Fitness for Service of Nuclear Power Plants: one is the ASME B&PV Code Section XI and the other one is the French RSE-M Code. Both of them are largely used in many countries, partially or totally. The last 2013 RSE-M covers “Mechanical Components of Pressurized Water Reactors (PWRs): - Pre-service and In-service inspection - Surveillance in operation or during shutdown - Flaw evaluation - Repairs-Replacements parts for plant in operation - Pressure tests The last 2013 ASME Section XI covers “Mechanical components and containment of Light Water Reactors (LWRs)” and has a larger scope with similar topics: more types of plants (PWR and Boiling Water Reactor-BWR), other components like metallic and concrete containments… The paper is a first comparison covering the scope, the jurisdiction, the general organization of each section, the major principles to develop In Service Inspection, Repair-Replacement activities, the flaw evaluation rules, the pressure test requirements, the surveillance procedures (monitoring…) and the connections with Design Codes… These Codes are extremely important for In-service inspection programs in particular and essential tools to justify long term operation of Nuclear Power Plants.


2019 ◽  
Vol 141 (01) ◽  
pp. 36-41 ◽  
Author(s):  
Charles W. Forsberg

Concentrated solar plants have been designed to store thermal energy so as to produce power after sundown, but heat storage should also be of interest to operators of nuclear power plants. Adding heat storage to light-water reactors is the enabling technology for a carbon-free electricity industry based on solar, wind, and nuclear power. And it can accomplish this with little disruption to the operations of existing nuclear plants. This article delves into the current heat storage technologies that are at various states of readiness to be deployed.


Author(s):  
Sang Kyu Ahn ◽  
Inn Seock Kim ◽  
Hun-Joo Lee ◽  
Soon Joon Hong

In the nuclear power community, deterministic design safety criteria have been used as a major means for assuring safety of nuclear power plants, e.g., light water reactors (LWRs). However, as a result of considerable advances in the quantitative risk analysis technique, such as Probabilistic Risk Assessment (PRA), risk-informed approaches are increasingly applied together with some of the deterministic approaches that are still considered valid. In this paper, the various deterministic approaches that have played an important role in ensuring nuclear power safety are critically reviewed to shed light to the necessary characteristics of the desirable design safety criteria especially with regard to advanced reactors such as Generation IV reactors that have great potential to further enhance the economic and safe production of nuclear power.


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