Analysis of main steam line break accident on a BWR test facility using TRACE

Abstract

PUMA-E is an integral test facility, which is used for extensive experimental investigations to study the behavior of Boiling Water Reactor (BWR) plants under accident conditions. The TRACE code is the best estimate thermal hydraulic system code developed by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission for performing nuclear power plant safety analysis. The aim of the present work is to conduct a short validation study of the TRACE code applied to the PUMA-E facility. Firstly, a TRACE model of the PUMA-E facility was developed based on the existing RELAP5 input deck. Then, an additional facility TRACE model with reactor pressure vessel modeled by three dimensional “VESSEL” component was also established. After that, a Main Steam Line Break accident test was simulated, and the calculation results were compared with experimental data and RELAP5 simulation results. The TRACE simulation capability to predict the accident phenomenon of BWR test facility was evaluated using both qualitative and quantitative methods. On the basis of the above research, the base case accompanying with one Gravity Driven Cooling System tank failure accident was carried out based on the three facility models. The validity and reliability of the simulation results of the different facility numerical models were mutually verified through a qualitative comparison of the simulation results.