Analysis of 4-inch cold leg top-slot break LOCA in ATLAS experimental facility using MARS-KS

Abstract

Abstract Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute (KAERI) has operated an integral effect test facility, the Advanced Thermal-Hydraulic Test Loop for Accident Simulation (ATLAS) with reference to the Advanced Power Reactor 1400 MW (APR1400) for transient and design basis accidents (DBAs) simulation. An experiment for a 4-inch cold leg top-slot break was performed at ATLAS to resolve a safety issue that the loop seal reformation (LSR) of APR1400 could lead to the increase of peak cladding temperature. In addition, the experimental data has been utilized to validate system codes within a framework of domestic standard problem (DSP) program organized by KAERI in collaboration with Korea Institute of Nuclear Safety (KINS). In this study, the experiment has been analyzed by thermal-hydraulic system analysis code, MARS-KS 1.5 and a comparison with experimental and calculation results has been performed. Since the top-slot break is not a typical break geometry for safety analyses, this study aims at examining the applicability of MARS-KS to the top-slot break accident where the LSR occurs repeatedly. The results revealed that overall physical behavior during the accident was predicted by the code, appropriately. MARS-KS showed the excursion of the peak cladding temperature because of the LSR as in experiment. It has been confirmed that the core integrity was maintained because the temperature excursion by the LSR was not large enough to alter the acceptance criteria. In addition, it is presented the results of the sensitivity analysis of parameter that affect the figure of merits.