Transient safety analysis for simplified accelerator driven system with gas-lift pump

Abstract

Owing to remarkable advantage for transmutation of the long-lived nuclear waste, Accelerator Driven System (ADS) is one of the most promising systems in nuclear power field. In this study, the transient analysis of a simplified lead bismuth alloy cooling accelerator driven system with gas-lift pump has been numerically simulated. By using point reactor neutron kinetics equation and related thermal-hydraulic models, TASAR (Transient Analysis of Simplified ADS Reactor) code is developed. The five kinds of transient cases are simulated: Starting gas-lift pump (SG), Unprotected loss of flow (ULOF), Beam interruption (BI), Unprotected transient over current (UTOC), Unprotected transient overpower (UTOP). Meanwhile, the calculation results of TASAR code are validated by the experimental data of NACIE (Natural Circulation Experiment) facility. The analysis is as following: In SG and ULOF conditions, the introduction of gas-lift pump has a remarkable influence of loop natural circulation capability. In BT and UTOC conditions, the short-time beam cutting off and a 100% increase of the external neutron source would not lead to the immediate fuel melting. In UTOP condition, a reactivity jump of 2$ would not lead to the damage of fuel and the cladding. The above numerical results show that, the accelerator and gas-lift pump influence the loop mass flow rate and core temperatures of research system in this paper greatly, and the simplified accelerator driven system with gas-lift pump has a very good safety performance.