Phenomena In Core Disruptive Accidents Research Articles

Experimental analyses by SIMMER-III on duct-wall failure and fuel discharge/relocation behavior

This paper describes experimental analyses using SIMMER-III and -IV, which are respectively two- and three-dimensional multi-component multi-phase Eulerian fluid-dynamics codes, for the purpose of integral code validation. Two topics of key phenomena in core disruptive accidents of sodium-cooled fast reactors are presented in this paper: duct-wall failure and fuel discharge/relocation behavior. To analyze the duct-wall failure behavior, the SCARABEE BE+3 in-pile experiments were selected. The SIMMER-III calculation was in good agreement with the overall event progression; which was characterized by coolant boiling, clad melting, fuel failure, molten pool formation, duct-wall failure, etc.; observed in the experiment. The CAMEL C6 experiment investigated the fuel discharge and relocation behavior through a simulated control rod guide tube, which is important in evaluating the neutronic reactivity. SIMMER-IV well simulated fuel-coolant interaction, sodium voiding, fuel relocation behavior observed in the experiment. These experimental analyses indicated the validity of the SIMMER-III and -IV computer code for the duct wall failure and fuel discharge/relocation behavior.

3D Simulation of Solid-Melt Mixture Flow with Melt Solidification Using a Finite Volume Particle Method

Relocation and freezing of molten core materials mixed with solid phases are among the important thermal-hydraulic phenomena in core disruptive accidents of a liquid-metal-cooled reactor (LMR). To simulate such behavior of molten metal mixed with solid particles flowing onto cold structures, a computational framework was investigated using two moving particle methods, namely, the finite volume particle (FVP) method and the distinct element method (DEM). In FVP, the fluid movement and phase changes are modeled through neighboring fluid particle interactions. For mixed-flow calculations, FVP was coupled with DEM to represent interactions between solid particles and between solid particles and the wall. A 3D computer code developed for solid-liquid mixture flows was validated by a series of pure-and mixed-melt freezing experiments using a low-melting-point alloy. A comparison between the results of experiments and simulations demonstrates that the present computational framework based on FVP and DEM is applicable to numerical simulations of solid-liquid mixture flows with freezing process under solid particle influences.

Detailed analyses of key phenomena in core disruptive accidents of sodium-cooled fast reactors by the COMPASS code

A five-year research project has been initiated in 2005 to develop a code based on the MPS (Moving Particle Semi-implicit) method for detailed analysis of key phenomena in core disruptive accidents (CDAs) of sodium-cooled fast reactors (SFRs). The code is named COMPASS (Computer Code with Moving Particle Semi-implicit for Reactor Safety Analysis). The key phenomena include (1) fuel pin failure and disruption, (2) molten pool boiling, (3) melt freezing and blockage formation, (4) duct wall failure, (5) low-energy disruptive core motion, (6) debris-bed coolability, and (7) metal–fuel pin failure. Validation study of COMPASS is progressing for these key phenomena. In this paper, recent COMPASS results of detailed analyses for the several key phenomena are summarized. Simulations of GEYSER and THEFIS experiments were performed for dispersion and freezing behaviors of molten materials in narrow flow channels. In particular, the latter experiment using melt–solid mixture is also related to fundamental behavior of low energy disruptive core. CABRI-TPA2 experiment was simulated for boiling behavior of molten core pool. Expected mechanism of heat transfer between molten fuel and steel mixture was reproduced by the simulation. Analyses of structural dynamics using elastoplastic mechanics and fracture criteria were performed for SCARABEE BE+3 and CABRI E7 experiments. These two analyses are especially focused on thermal and mechanical failure of steel duct wall and fuel pin, respectively. The present results demonstrate COMPASS will be useful to understand and clarify the key phenomena of CDAs in SFRs in details.

Experimental Analyses by SIMMER-III on Debris-Bed Coolability and Metallic Fuel Freezing Behavior

This paper describes experimental analyses using the SIMMER-III computer code, which is a two-dimensional multi-component multi-phase Eulerian fluid-dynamics code. Two topics of key phenomena in core disruptive accidents were presented in this paper: debris-bed coolability and metallic fuel freezing behavior. Related experimental database were reviewed to choose suitable experiments. To analyze the debris-bed coolability, the ACRR-D10 in-pile experiments were selected. SIMMER-III well simulated the heat transfer mechanisms including conduction, boiling and channeling observed in the experiment. Metallic fuel may freeze onto the stainless steel (cladding or wrapper tube) together with eutectic formation during core disruption in a metallic-fueled reactor. The CAFE-UT2 experiment carried out using pure UO2 melt to investigate such phenomena was selected for the experimental analysis. In spite of no eutectic formation model in the SIMMER-III code, the calculated fuel penetration behavior was in good agreement with the experimental data.Copyright © 2010 by ASME

3D Simulation of Solid-Melt Mixture Flow with Melt Solidification Using a Finite Volume Particle Method

Relocation and freezing of molten core materials mixed with solid phases are among the important thermal-hydraulic phenomena in core disruptive accidents of a liquid-metal-cooled reactor (LMR). To simulate such behavior of molten metal mixed with solid particles flowing onto cold structures, a computational framework was investigated using two moving particle methods, namely, the finite volume particle (FVP) method and the distinct element method (DEM). In FVP, the fluid movement and phase changes are modeled through neighboring fluid particle interactions. For mixed-flow calculations, FVP was coupled with DEM to represent interactions between solid particles and between solid particles and the wall. A 3D computer code developed for solid-liquid mixture flows was validated by a series of pure-and mixed-melt freezing experiments using a low-melting-point alloy. A comparison between the results of experiments and simulations demonstrates that the present computational framework based on FVP and DEM is applicable to numerical simulations of solid-liquid mixture flows with freezing process under solid particle influences.

Experimental Analyses by SIMMER-III on Fuel-Pin Disruption and Low-Energy Disrupted Core Motion

This paper describes experimental analyses using the SIMMER-III computer code, which is a two-dimensional multi-component multi-phase Eulerian fluid-dynamics code. Two topics of key phenomena in core disruptive accidents were presented in this paper: fuel-pin disruption, and low energy disrupted core motion. Related experimental database were reviewed to select appropriate experiments. To analyze the fuel-pin disruption behavior, the CABRI-EFM1 and the CABRI-E7 in-pile experiments were selected. The SIMMER-III calculation was in good agreement with the overall fuel-pin disruption and dispersion behavior, which was characterized by a thermal pin-failure mode, observed in the CABRI-EFM1 experiment. Since the code framework of SIMMER-III cannot treat a mechanical deformation and breakup behavior, the SAS4A code was applied to the CABRI-E7 experiment, where a mechanical pin-failure mode was realized. In this study, such a failure mode was also reasonably simulated. The low-energy disrupted core consists principally of fuel particles and liquid steel (or fuel). Under such a mixture condition, significantly reduced melt penetration length was obtained in the THEFIS out-of-pile experiments. SIMMER-III well simulated the melt freezing and blockage behavior observed in the experiment.

Experimental Analyses by SIMMER-III on Molten Fuel Freezing and Boiling Pool Behavior

This paper describes experimental analyses using the SIMMER-III computer code, which is a two-dimensional multi-component multi-phase Eulerian fluid-dynamics code. Two topics of key phenomena in core disruptive accidents were presented in this paper: molten fuel freezing and dispersion; and boiling behavior of molten fuel pool. Related experimental database are reviewed to select appropriate experiments. To analyze the fuel freezing behavior, the GEYSER out-of-pile and the CABRI-EFM1 in-pile experiments were selected. The SIMMER-III calculations were in good agreement with fuel penetration lengths measured in a series of the GEYSER experiments. The fuel freezing behavior in the CABRI-EFM1 experiment was also reasonably simulated by SIMMER-III. The boiling pool consisting principally of molten fuel/steel mixtures is characterized by the heat transfer between fuel and steel. The CABRI-TPA2 experiment has suggested low transient heat flux from fuel to steel due to a steel vapor blanketing around a steel droplet. SIMMER-III well simulated the steel boiling behavior observed in the CABRI-TPA2 experiment by applying reduced heat transfer between fuel and steel.

Improvement of Basic Fluid Dynamics Models for the COMPASS Code

The COMPASS code is a new next generation safety analysis code to provide local information for various key phenomena in core disruptive accidents of sodium-cooled fast reactors, which is based on the moving particle semi-implicit (MPS) method. In this study, improvement of basic fluid dynamics models for the COMPASS code was carried out and verified with fundamental verification calculations. A fully implicit pressure solution algorithm was introduced to improve the numerical stability of MPS simulations. With a newly developed free surface model, numerical difficulty caused by poor pressure solutions is overcome by involving free surface particles in the pressure Poisson equation. In addition, applicability of the MPS method to interactions between fluid and multi-solid bodies was investigated in comparison with dam-break experiments with solid balls. It was found that the PISO algorithm and free surface model makes simulation with the passively moving solid model stable numerically. The characteristic behavior of solid balls was successfully reproduced by the present numerical simulations.