Best Estimate BWR Transient Analysis with TRACG Assessment using Data from BWR Startup Tests and LOCA Integral Tests

Abstract

TRACG is a new version of the best estimate BWR transient analysis code, which utilizes a multi-dimensional two-fluid model for the thermal hydraulics and a three-dimensional neutron kinetics model. A three-dimensional neutronics, a fully implicit integration scheme and models for advanced BWR components have been implemented in the code upon TRAC-BF1.Assessment of TRACG has been performed in this study for the predictive capability of plant transients, which include thermal-hydraulic and neutronic interactions, as affected by responses of the plant control system. Simulations were presented for BWR representative transient tests, which were done as part of a series of BWR5 startup tests. As for the capability to predict thermal hydraulics during the design basis LOCAs, simulations were presented for the LOCA integral tests conducted in the ROSA-III at JAERI and the Hitachi TBL, which had been used for assessment of the TRAC former version.Consequently, (1)the space-dependent power flow transitions in a BWR were confirmed by TRACG simulations in which the module coupled with neutronics and thermal hydraulics during transients has been newly introduced, and (2) the characteristic thermal-hydraulic phenomena including multi-channel effects during the design basis LOCAs were confirmed, as well as the TRAC former version, by TRACG simulations on which the influence due to a fully implicit integration scheme has not extended. Capability of TRACG to predict BWR transients ranging from simple plant operational transients to design basis LOCAs was successfully demonstrated.