Experimental models of medium break loss of coolant accidents with and without steam generator tube rupture

Abstract

This paper reports model experiments simulating medium break loss of coolant accidents, with and without steam generator tube rupture (SGTR), in pressurized water reactors. Apart from a significant influence on the pressure in the reactor coolant system in the early parts of the accident, SGTR generally has only a small effect on the pressures and temperatures during the accident. The initial reactor conditions are found to be more significant. Some results of preliminary numerical models are briefly presented and these are broadly in agreement with the experimental measurements.