Blowdown thrust force under pipe rupture accident: II. Analytical evaluations of partial break and ramped opening break

Abstract

Blowdown thrust forces of partial break and ramped opening break of a pipe were studied analytically simulating the pipe rupture accident in light water reactor power plants. The analyses were carried out concerning pipe rupture tests with a 4-inch diameter pipe under PWR LOCA conditions which were performed at the Japan Atomic Energy Research Institute. In this paper, the relationship between the partial break and the blowdown thrust force is described. Furthermore, it is also clarified and discussed that the ramped opening break influences the blowdown thrust force just after the break and the maximum blowdown thrust force.