Abstract
Moderator acts as primary heat sink to arrest the unwarranted heat-up of fuel channels in the scenario of loss of coolant accident along with the unavailability of emergency core cooling system. In addition, severe heat-up of channel (which consists of fuel bundles, Pressure Tube, PT and Calandria Tube, CT) also occurs during any un-called for event of moderator-cooling/make-up system malfunctioning. Eventually, this all lead to the major loss in structural rigidity. Present investigation is performed to study the sagging deformation of PT for standardized 220MWe Indian PHWR. A scaled-down PT (1/3rd scale) is tested with a uniquely designed experimental setup that is capable of capturing high temperature sagging behavior. Results confirm that the Indian PT significantly deforms under thermally assisted rate-dependent plasticity (creep) above 600 °C. Post-test visual examination reveals no cracks in the PT, however a significant thinning of the PT near the junction of weight simulators is observed.
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