Investigation of the effect of B4C on the interaction of oxide melt and steel in a VVER-1000 vessel during a severe accident

Abstract

The results of investigations of the interaction of U-Zr-B-C-O melts with steel, which are performed as part of the OECD Masca international program, are presented. It is found that, as a result of the interaction, boron and carbon become concentrated predominately in the metallic phase of the melt. As the initial mass ratio mFe/mmelt increases, the effect of the addition of B4C on the melt-iron interaction decreases because the metallic phase is diluted with iron. It is concluded on the basis of a comparison of the results of the STFM-B Nos. 3, 7 experiments with the STFM-Fe Nos. 3, 7 experiments performed previously without the participation of boron carbide that the effect of boron carbide on the interaction of the oxide melt with iron decreases as the degree of oxidation of zirconium increases.