Licensing activity and code validation for generation IV SCW technology

Abstract

Centrum Výzkumu Řež has a vast R&D program which was financed through the SUStainable Energy project. Several state-of-the-art facilities were designed in order to cover the demand of the energy community and to face new challenges for such advanced technologies. Two new experimental loops are to be inserted inside of the LVR-15 Research Reactor. Their purpose is to analyze cladding and structural material behaviour under different pressures, temperatures and coolant media conditions in comparison to the Light Water Reactors. The loops in question are the High Temperature Helium Loop and the Super Critical Water Loop. This paper focuses solely on the supercritical water loop. The first task of the Safety Research Section within the CVŘ was to select and to assess a code in order to simulate the media used in the loops. The second task was to use the selected codes to prepare the facilities models in order to simulate the possible consequences of the accident scenarios on the LVR-15 reactor. Based on the criteria set by the authors of this paper, through a comprehensive selecting procedure the ATHLET 3.1A code was chosen for the super critical water simulation. The paper is presenting the methodology followed in assessing the code’s capability for simulation of SCW.