REACTIVITY INSERTION ACCIDENT ANALYSIS OF KARTINI REACTOR

Abstract

REACTIVITY INSERTION ACCIDENT ANALYSIS OF KARTINI REACTOR. A transient analysis of reactivity insertionaccident of Kartini reactor during start up from the minimum critical condition has been performed to estimate the effect onthe fuel temperature increase. Two cases of reactivity insertion limits had been assumed in this study i.e. the reactivityinsertions were limited by the actuation of overpower trip system (110 %) for the 1st case and by manual scram when thecontrol rod reached the 100 % UP position, assuming the overpower trip system was failed to function for the 2nd case.Adiabatic condition was assumed in this study, to get the most severe condition. The result shows that based on theassumed power level of trip setting for the 1st case, the total reactivity insertion was 0.82 $, corresponding to the reactorperiod of about 2 s and causing the maximum fuel temperature increase of around 11 oC or the maximum fuel temperature of45 oC. For the 2nd case the total reactivity insertion at the trip point was 1.367 $, resulting in the maximum fuel temperatureincrease of about 103 oC or maximum fuel temperatur of around 137 oC which is still far below the defined design limit of1115 oC for transient condition and 700 oC for steady state as well. This result concludes that by limiting the available coreexcess of reactivity at reasonably low, it could prevent the fuel from possible of undergoing an excessive temperatureincrease, during the postulated reactivity insertion accident.Keywords: Transient analysis, reactivity insertion, accident, reactor kartini, fuel temperature.