Abstract
This paper presents the results of the analysis of the Unprotected Loss of Flow (ULOF) experiment SHRT-45R performed in the EBR-II fast reactor. These experiments are being analyzed in the scope of a benchmark exercise coordinated by the IAEA. The SHRT-45R benchmark contains a neutronic and a thermal-hydraulic part and results are presented for both. Neutronic calculations are performed with the ERANOS2.0 code in combination with various sets of nuclear data. The thermal-hydraulic evaluation is done with RELAP5-3D. The results are that the major neutronic parameters are well predicted with error margins on the order of 1%. The thermal-hydraulic results are less favourable: a consistent overestimation of the outlet temperature occurs in combination with erroneous flow distribution. Observed differences with measured data cannot be explained easily. The work presented in this paper was undertaken to investigate and validate the effectiveness of the calculational tools and data that are commonly used in our lab for the design and analysis of liquid metal cooled fast reactors.
Highlights
The Experimental Breeder Reactor II (EBR-II) was a small (60 MWth) fast breeder reactor operated by the Argonne National Laboratory (ANL) from 1964 to 1994
In the following figures we provide an overview of the most important results of the Unprotected Loss of Flow (ULOF) transient calculation
Given that our calculations give a good result for the fission power, it is rather surprising that the core outlet temperatures are consistently overestimated, even if the coolant flow rate appears to be somewhat underestimated during natural convection and even if the measured data may not always be reliable
Summary
The Experimental Breeder Reactor II (EBR-II) was a small (60 MWth) fast breeder reactor operated by the Argonne National Laboratory (ANL) from 1964 to 1994. In 1984 a series of experiments was performed aimed at testing inherent safety. Two of these experiments (SHRT17 and SHRT-45R) have been made available by the ANL as a benchmark exercise. This benchmark exercise is coordinated by the IAEA. The SHRT-45R experiment is an Unprotected Loss of Flow (ULOF) from full power. Since EBR-II has favourable natural feedback features the reactor transitions automatically into a safe, low power state during the ULOF transient. The objective is that participants determine feedback coefficients from the neutronic benchmark and use these coefficients in the TH benchmark
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