Modeling Passive Safety in the Westinghouse Small Modular Reactor: Assessment of Wall Condensation and CMT Natural Circulation

2013 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jun Liao ◽  
Vefa N. Kucukboyaci
Keyword(s):  
Natural Circulation ◽  
Passive Safety ◽  
Reactor Safety ◽  
Heat Transfer Mechanism ◽  
The Core ◽  
Design Basis ◽  
Loss Of Coolant Accident ◽  
Small Modular Reactor ◽  
Loss Of Coolant ◽  
Safety Design

Passive safety design that utilizes gravity, natural circulation, heat sink and stored potential energy for reactor safety functions is being increasingly adopted in advanced reactors, especially in the small modular reactor (SMR) designs. The passive safety design of the Westinghouse SMR is described in details and compared with the AP1000® passive safety design. The natural circulation loops and heat transfer mechanism in a postulated Westinghouse SMR loss of coolant accident (LOCA) are discussed. The key thermal hydraulic phenomena pertinent to the passive safety design of the Westinghouse SMR have been identified in the small break LOCA Phenomena Identification and Rank Table (PIRT). Among the identified phenomena, condensation on the containment wall and natural circulation in core makeup tank (CMT) loop are highly ranked. Those passive safety phenomena are expected to be assessed using the WCOBRA/TRAC-TF2 LOCA thermal hydraulic code, which will provide the design basis LOCA analysis in the SMR design control documentation. In this paper, the progress on the assessing two key phenomena in passive safety of Westinghouse SMR is reported. The preliminary assessments against UCB tube condensation tests and Westinghouse core makeup tank tests reveals the capability of WCOBRA/TRAC-TF2 code to reasonably predict the condensation on the containment wall and natural circulation in the core makeup tank (CMT) loop.

Emergency Strategy Research of Loss of Coolant Accident for Small Modular Reactor

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wang Yuqi ◽  
Yu Aimin ◽  
Yang Qingming
Keyword(s):  
Simulation System ◽  
Passive Safety ◽  
Strategy Research ◽  
Passive Safety Systems ◽  
Loss Of Coolant Accident ◽  
Small Modular Reactor ◽  
Loss Of Coolant ◽  
Full Power ◽  
Safety Systems ◽  
Emergency Operating

This paper researched the behavior of 20mm break Loss of Coolant Accident (LOCA) which is located in the Direct Vessel Injection (DVI) line of the integrated small modular reactor (SMR) in case of full power with RELAP5-3KEYMASTER simulation system. The response of passive safety systems is analyzed and compared with the Primary Safety Analysis Report (PSAR) post-accident. Tendency for the variation of main parameters after the accident agree well with the PSAR, which validates the accuracy and rationality of the model, and solves the new problems in the process of modeling and provides an important tool for the research and development of SMR. Cooling and depressurization are calculated post-accident. The variation of main parameters post-accident and the accident advancement and results have been analyzed. Operation intervention is given and the effects with it are discussed. And the emergency strategy for development and verification of Emergency Operating Procedures (EOP) is given.

scholarly journals ANALISIS KONDISI TERAS REAKTOR DAYA MAJU AP1000 PADA KECELAKAAN SMALL BREAK LOCA

2015 ◽  
Vol 17 (2) ◽  
pp. 87
Author(s):  
Andi Sofrany Ekariansyah
Keyword(s):  
Power Reactor ◽  
Fuel Cladding ◽  
The Core ◽  
Design Basis ◽  
Temperature Transient ◽  
Loss Of Coolant Accident ◽  
Loss Of Coolant ◽  
Core Condition ◽  
Core Cooling ◽  
The Impact

ABSTRAK ANALISIS KONDISI TERAS REAKTOR DAYA MAJU AP1000 PADA KECELAKAAN SMALL BREAK LOCA. Kecelakaan yang diakibatkan oleh kehilangan pendingin (loss of coolant accident / LOCA) dari sistem reaktor merupakan kejadian dasar desain yang tetap diantisipasi dalam desain reaktor daya yang mengadopsi teknologi Generasi II hingga IV. LOCA ukuran kecil (small break LOCA) memiliki dampak yang lebih signifikan terhadap keselamatan dibandingkan LOCA ukuran besar (large break LOCA) seperti terlihat pada kejadian Three-Mile Island (TMI). Fokus makalah adalah pada analisis small break LOCA pada reaktor daya maju Generasi III+ yaitu AP1000 dengan mensimulasikan tiga kejadian pemicu yaitu membukanya katup Automatic Depressurization System (ADS) secara tak disengaja, putusnya salah satu pipa Direct Vessel Injection (DVI) secara double-ended, dan putusnya pipa lengan dingin dengan diameter bocoran 10 inci. Metode yang digunakan adalah simulasi kejadian pada model AP1000 yang dikembangkan secara mandiri menggunakan program perhitungan RELAP5/SCDAP/Mod3.4. Dampak yang ingin dilihat adalah kondisi teras selama terjadinya small break LOCA yang terdiri dari pembentukan mixture level dan transien temperatur kelongsong bahan bakar. Hasil simulasi menunjukkan bahwa mixture level untuk semua kejadian small break LOCA berada di atas tinggi teras aktif yang menunjukkan tidak terjadinya core uncovery. Adanya mixture level berpengaruh pada transien temperatur kelongsong yang menurun dan menunjukkan pendinginan bahan bakar yang efektif. Hasil di atas juga identik dengan hasil perhitungan program lain yaitu NOTRUMP. Keefektifan pendinginan teras juga disebabkan oleh berfungsinya injeksi pendingin melalui fitur keselamatan pasif yang menjadi ciri reaktor daya AP1000. Secara keseluruhan, hasil analisis menunjukkan model AP1000 yang telah dikembangkan dengan RELAP5 dapat digunakan untuk keperluan analisis kecelakaan dasar desain pada reaktor daya maju AP1000. Kata kunci: analisis, mixture level, temperatur kelongsong, small break LOCA, RELAP5.  ABSTRACT ANALYSIS ON THE CORE CONDITION OF AP1000 ADVANCED POWER REACTOR DURING SMALL BREAK LOCA. Accident due to the loss of coolant from the reactor boundary is an anticipated design basis event in the design of power reactor adopting the Generation II up to IV technology. Small break LOCA leads to more significant impact on safety compared to the large break LOCA as shown in the Three-Mile Island (TMI). The focus of this paper is the small break LOCA analysis on the Generation III+ advanced power reactor of AP1000 by simulating three different initiating events, which are inadvertent opening of Automatic Depressurization System (ADS), double-ended break on one of Direct Vessel Injection (DVI) pipe, and 10 inch diameter split break on one of cold leg pipe. Methodology used is by simulating the events on the AP1000 model developed using RELAP5/SCDAP/Mod3.4. The impact analyzed is the core condition during the small break LOCA consisting of the mixture level occurrence and the fuel cladding temperature transient. The results show that the mixture level for all small break LOCA events are above the active core height, which indicates no core uncovery event. The development of the mixture level affect the fuel cladding temperature transient, which shows a decreasingly trend after the break, and the effectifeness of core cooling. Those results are identical with the results of other code of NOTRUMP. The resulted core cooling is also due to the function of coolant injection from passive safety feature, which is unique in the AP1000 design. In overall, the result of analysis shows that the AP1000 model developed by the RELAP5 can be used for analysis of design basis accident considered in the AP1000 advanced power reactor. Keywords: analysis, mixture level, fuel cladding temperature, small break LOCA, RELAP5.

scholarly journals Simulation of the Westinghouse AP1000 Response to SBLOCA Using RELAP/SCDAPSIM

2014 ◽  
Vol 2014 ◽  
pp. 1-9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ayah Elshahat ◽  
Timothy Abram ◽  
Judith Hohorst ◽  
Chris Allison
Keyword(s):  
Driving Forces ◽  
Natural Circulation ◽  
Safety System ◽  
Operating Conditions ◽  
Severe Accident ◽  
Passive Safety ◽  
System Component ◽  
Pressurized Water ◽  
Loss Of Coolant Accident ◽  
Accident Conditions

Great interest is given now to advanced nuclear reactors especially those using passive safety components. The Westinghouse AP1000 Advanced Passive pressurized water reactor (PWR) is an 1117 MWe PWR designed to achieve a high safety and performance record. The AP1000 safety system uses natural driving forces, such as pressurized gas, gravity flow, natural circulation flow, and convection. In this paper, the safety performance of the AP1000 during a small break loss of coolant accident (SBLOCA) is investigated. This was done by modelling the AP1000 and the passive safety systems employed using RELAP/SCDAPSIM code. RELAP/SCDAPSIM is designed to describe the overall reactor coolant system (RCS) thermal hydraulic response and core behaviour under normal operating conditions or under design basis or severe accident conditions. Passive safety components in the AP1000 showed a clear improvement in accident mitigation. It was found that RELAP/SCDAPSIM is capable of modelling a LOCA in an AP1000 and it enables the investigation of each safety system component response separately during the accident. The model is also capable of simulating natural circulation and other relevant phenomena. The results of the model were compared to that of the NOTRUMP code and found to be in a good agreement.

Investigation of effects of nonavailability of passive safety systems on the reactor behaviour during LOCA Scenario in AP600

Kerntechnik ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 86 (3) ◽  
pp. 244-255
Author(s):  
S. H. Abdel-Latif ◽  
A. M. Refaey
Keyword(s):  
Passive Safety ◽  
Primary System ◽  
Water Storage Tank ◽  
The Core ◽  
Passive Safety Systems ◽  
Loss Of Coolant Accident ◽  
Passive Safety System ◽  
Stage 4 ◽  
Core Cooling ◽  
Safety Systems

Abstract The AP600 is a Westinghouse Advanced Passive PWR with a two–loop 1 940 MWt. This reactor is equipped with advanced passive safety systems which are designed to operate automatically at desired set-points. On the other hand, the failure or nonavailability to operate of any of the passive safety systems may affect reactor safety. In this study, modeling and nodalization of primary and secondary loops, and all passive reactor cooling systems are conducted and a 10-inch cold leg break LOCA is analyzed using ATHLET 3.1A Code. During loss of coolant accident in which the passive safety system failure or nonavailability are considered, four different scenarios are assumed. Scenario 1 with the availability of all passive systems, scenario 2 is failure of one of the accumulators to activate, scenario 3 is without actuation of the automatic depressurization system (ADS) stages 1–3, and scenario 4 is without actuation of ADS stage 4. Results indicated that the actuation of passive safety systems provide sufficient core cooling and thus could mitigate the accidental consequence of LOCAs. Failure of one accumulator during LOCA causes early actuation of ADS and In-Containment Refueling Water Storage Tank (IRWST). In scenario 3 where the LOCA without ADS stages 1–3 actuations, the depressurization of the primary system is relatively slow and the level of the core coolant drops much earlier than IRWST actuation. In scenario 4 where the accident without ADS stage-4 activation, results in slow depressurization and the level of the core coolant drops earlier than IRWST injection. During the accident process, the core uncovery and fuel heat up did not happen and as a result the safety of AP600 during a 10-in. cold leg MBLOCA was established. The relation between the cladding surface temperature and the primary pressure with the actuation signals of the passive safety systems are compared with that of RELAP5/Mode 3.4 code and a tolerable agreement was obtained.

scholarly journals Analysis of mass transfer processes in a reactor during a loss-of-coolant accident

2018 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 149-154
Author(s):  
Aleksey Kulikov ◽  
Andrey Lepyokhin ◽  
Vitaly Polunichev
Keyword(s):  
Time Interval ◽  
Initial Water ◽  
Pressurized Water ◽  
The Core ◽  
Maximum Time ◽  
Loss Of Coolant Accident ◽  
Safe State ◽  
Loss Of Coolant ◽  
Water Gas ◽  
Gas Ratio

The purpose of the work was to optimize the parameters of the spillage system equipped with a gas pressure hydroaccumulator for a ship pressurized water reactor in a loss-of-coolant accident. The water-gas ratio in the hydroaccumulator and the hydraulic resistance of the path between the hydroaccumulator and the reactor were optimized at the designed hydroaccumulator geometric volume. The main dynamic processes were described using a mathematical model and a computational analysis. A series of numerical calculations were realized to simulate the behavior dynamics of the coolant level in the reactor during the accident – by varying the optimized parameters. Estimates of the minimum and maximum values of the coolant level were obtained: depending on the initial water-gas ratio in the hydroaccumulator at different diameters of the flow restrictor on the path between the hydroaccumulator and the reactor. These results were obtained subject to the restrictive conditions that, during spillage, the coolant level should remain above the core and below the blowdown nozzle. The first condition implies that the core is in safe state, the second excludes the coolant water blowdown. The optimization goal was to achieve the maximum time interval in which these conditions would be satisfied simultaneously. The authors propose methods for selecting the optimal spillage system parameters; these methods provide the maximum time for the core to be in a safe state during a loss-of-coolant accident at the designed hydroaccumulator volume. Using these methods, it is also possible to make assessments from the early stages of designing reactor plants.

The Research on Core Melting Process: Oxidation

2013 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jun Wang ◽  
Wenxi Tian ◽  
Jianan Lu ◽  
Yingying Ma ◽  
Guanghui Su ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Natural Circulation ◽  
Reactor Core ◽  
Melting Process ◽  
Coolant Pump ◽  
Fuel Rod ◽  
Fuel Pellets ◽  
Design Basis ◽  
Loss Of Coolant ◽  
Design Basis Accident ◽  
Station Blackout

Beyond-design basis accidents in the AP1000 may result in reactor core melting and are therefore termed core melt accidents. The aim of this work is to develop a code to calculate and analyze the oxidation of a single fuel rod with total failures of engineered safeguard systems under a certain beyond-design basis accident such as a gigantic earthquake which can result in station blackout and then total loss of coolant flow. Using the code, the responses of the most dangerous fuel rod in the AP1000 were calculated under the accident. A discussion involving fuel pellets melting, cladding rupture and oxidation, and hydrogen production then was carried out, focused on DNBR during coolant pump coastdown, the cladding intactness under different flow rates in natural circulation, and the delay effect on cladding rupture due to cladding oxidation. By the analysis of calculated results, several suggestions on guaranteeing the security of fuel rods were provided.

scholarly journals Analysis of thermal hydraulic behavior of KONVOI PWR during a design extension condition

2021 ◽  
pp. 4-4
Author(s):  
Salwa Helmy ◽  
Magy Kandil ◽  
Ahmed Refaey
Keyword(s):  
Power Plants ◽  
Pressurized Water Reactor ◽  
Fuel Temperature ◽  
Pressurized Water ◽  
Water Reactor ◽  
The Core ◽  
Loss Of Coolant Accident ◽  
Hydraulic Behaviour ◽  
Loss Of Coolant ◽  
Safety Systems

In Nuclear Power Plants the Design Extension Conditions are more complex and severe than those postulated as Design Basis Accidents, therefore, they must be taken into account in the safety analyses. In this study, many hypothetical investigated transients are applied on KONVOI pressurized water reactor during a 6-in. (182 cm2) cold leg Small Break Loss-of-Coolant-Accident to revise the effects of all safety systems ways through their availability/ nonavailability on the thermal hydraulic behaviour of the reactor. The investigated transients are represented through three cases of Small Break Loss-of-Coolant-Accident as, case-1, without scram and all of the safety systems are failure, case-2, the normal scram actuation with failure of all safety systems (nonavailability), and finally case 3, with normal actuation scram sequence and normal sequential actuation of all safety systems (availability). These three investigated transient cases are simulated by creation a model using Analysis of Thermal-Hydraulics of LEaks and Transient code. In all transient cases, all types of reactivity feedbacks, boron, moderator density, moderator temperature and fuel temperature are considered. The steady-state results are nearly in agreement with the plant parameters available in previous literatures. The results show the importance effects of the feedbacks reactivity at Loss-of-Coolant-Accident on the fallouts power, since they are considered the key parameters for controlling the clad and fuel temperatures to maintain them below their melting point. Moreover, the calculated results in all cases show that the thermal hydraulic parameters are in acceptable ranges and encounter the safety criterion during Loss-of-Coolant-Accident the Design Extension Conditions accidents processes. Furthermore, the results show that the core uncovers and fuel heat up do not occur in KONVOI pressurized water reactor in theses the Design Extension Conditions simulations since, all safety systems provide adequate core cooling by sufficient water inventory into the core to cover it.

Dynamic Assessment of the Core Barrel During Loss of Coolant Accident

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yaroslav Dubyk ◽  
Vladislav Filonov ◽  
Oleksii Ishchenko ◽  
Igor Orynyak ◽  
Yuliia Filonova
Keyword(s):  
Dynamic Assessment ◽  
Pressurized Water Reactor ◽  
Acoustic Response ◽  
Element Analysis ◽  
Pressurized Water ◽  
The Core ◽  
Loss Of Coolant Accident ◽  
The Finite Element Analysis ◽  
Loss Of Coolant ◽  
Duhamel Integral

This article focuses on the dynamic behavior of the Pressurized Water Reactor (PWR) during the Loss Of Coolant Accident (LOCA) which cause the significant acoustic loads on the Core Shrouds. The finite element analysis of a PWR was performed to obtain the acoustic response to the LOCA event. We have performed dynamic stress and strain calculations in the frequency domain for the Core Barrel, according to classical shell theories. The Duhamel integral was used to calculate the transient response of a shell to the transient load caused by the water hammer event. The results obtained were used for fracture mechanics evaluations for flaws, which may occur between inservice inspections.

scholarly journals Validation of Advanced Computer Codes for VVER Technology: LB-LOCA Transient in PSB-VVER Facility

2012 ◽  
Vol 2012 ◽  
pp. 1-15 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Del Nevo ◽  
M. Adorni ◽  
F. D'Auria ◽  
O. I. Melikhov ◽  
I. V. Elkin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Natural Circulation ◽  
Test Facility ◽  
Pressurized Water Reactor ◽  
Pressurized Water ◽  
Loss Of Coolant Accident ◽  
Loss Of Coolant ◽  
Mass Inventory ◽  
Computer Codes ◽  
Set Up ◽  
Advanced Computer

The OECD/NEA PSB-VVER project provided unique and useful experimental data for code validation from PSB-VVER test facility. This facility represents the scaled-down layout of the Russian-designed pressurized water reactor, namely, VVER-1000. Five experiments were executed, dealing with loss of coolant scenarios (small, intermediate, and large break loss of coolant accidents), a primary-to-secondary leak, and a parametric study (natural circulation test) aimed at characterizing the VVER system at reduced mass inventory conditions. The comparative analysis, presented in the paper, regards the large break loss of coolant accident experiment. Four participants from three different institutions were involved in the benchmark and applied their own models and set up for four different thermal-hydraulic system codes. The benchmark demonstrated the performances of such codes in predicting phenomena relevant for safety on the basis of fixed criteria.

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