The characteristics of break flows of SBLOCA tests in ATLAS facility

Abstract

The characteristics of break flows of small break loss of coolant accident (SBLOCA) tests in the ATLAS (Advanced thermal–hydraulic Test Loop for Accident Simulation) facility were investigated. For an investigation of the characteristics of break flows for SBLOCA tests, cold leg (CL) pipe break and direct vessel injection (DVI) line break tests were compared with respect to several kinds of viewpoints, e.g., pressurizer (PZR) pressure vs. accumulated break mass; comparison of accumulated break masses; occurrence of choking at the break nozzle; comparison of upstream conditions; and comparison of the discharge coefficient. In the comparison of PZR pressure vs. accumulated break mass, the overall trends were similar between CL pipe and DVI line breaks. In the comparison of accumulated break masses, the accumulated break mass of the CL pipe break was larger than that of the DVI line break for four different break sizes. In the comparison of the occurrence of choking at the break nozzle, it was found that there should be choking at the break nozzle in the CL pipe and DVI line SBLOCA tests. For a comparison of the upstream conditions, upstream fluid temperatures showed effects of downcomer wall temperature in a DVI line break. For a comparison of the Cd values, the geometry effect, e.g., the L/D ratio, was discussed, especially regarding the two smallest break tests.