Abstract
In French nuclear PWRs, the main basic functions-control of reactivity in the core, removal of residual power given off by the fuel and radioactivity containment-are ensured by systems generally comprising rebundant trains. In order to check the results of safety analysis regarding special or critical points which arise from fire development in a room, re-check studies are carried out: they are based on experimental results from mock up tests and on digital fire development simulation. An experimental program is also necessary to validate the modelling of the main phenomena. An intensive experimental program started in 1989 using the various facilities of the Fire Laboratory section at Cadarache. It involves all the materials encountered in the nuclear fuel cycle, from highly inflammable liquids to common material such as electrical cables. The aim of the tests is on the one hand to demonstrate the efficiency and the reliability of prevention means and on the other hand to provide the necessary data for modelling and code development. Code development includes a deterministic fire description to point out the special problems, an analytical fire description to calculate the thermodynamical consequences of a single source fire (Flamme 1) or of several fires from various nature (Flamme 2) and a coupling with a ventilation code to evaluate the effect on a complex venting network.
Published Version
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