Stored Energy Scale and Evaluation in Nuclear Plant Test Facility

Abstract

The stored energy in the component in a nuclear power plant test facility would gradually release to coolant. This would affect the coolant temperature and thermal-hydraulic behavior of the testing. This paper analytically investigated the relationship between stored energy and scaling ratio, design pressure of the pressure vessel when modeling an ideal power plant test facility. Taking AP1000 as an example, the stored energy ratio between the test vessel and prototype reactor vessel was calculated. Comparisons manifest that in order to meet the stored energy scaling criteria, the height ratio, diameter ratio should be deliberately selected. Further investigation revealed that the stored energy increasing with design pressure can be compensated by changing vessel material. The research indicated several practical principals for coping with the stored energy in test facility design.