Phenomenology during the loss of residual heat removal system at midloop conditions with pressurizer PORVs open: Associated boron dilution

Abstract

The loss of residual heat removal system (RHRS) at midloop operation is an important risk contributor at low power and shutdown conditions. In this kind of transient the reflux-condensation can play an important role during the sequence to avoid the core damage. Several simulations concerning the loss of the RHRS in a PWR-W with the pressurizer PORVs open have been carried out with TRACE code considering the availability of steam generators. The present study aims to analyze, firstly, the thermal-hydraulic behavior after the loss of RHRS at midloop conditions throughout different configurations with reflux-condensation as the sole cooling mechanism available, and secondly, the issue related to the boron dilution that takes place during this kind of transient. The simulation results show that in the open RCS configuration, an equilibrium pressure is obtained in all cases and the reflux-condensation removes an important part of the decay heat. Moreover, in some configurations, this mechanism may cause the formation of an unborated water slug in the crossover leg that can lead to a boron dilution sequence.