In vessel corium propagation sensitivity study of reactor pressure vessel rupture time with PROCOR platform

  • Eleonora Skrzypek National Center for Nuclear Research, Warsaw University of Technology
  • Maciej Skrzypek National Center for Nuclear Research, Warsaw University of Technology
  • Laurent Saas CEA Cadarache, DEN/DTN/SMTA/LPMA
  • Romain LeTellier CEA Cadarache, DEN/DTN/SMTA/LPMA

Abstract

The problem of corium propagation for PWRs in the Reactor Pressure Vessel (RPV) and the timing of RPV failure is one of themain issues of study in the area of severe accidents. The PROCOR numerical platform created by the CEA severe accidentlaboratory is modelling corium propagation for LWRs, its relocation to the Lower Plenum and RPV failure. The idea behind theplatform was to provide a tool that is fast enough to be able to perform numerous calculations within a reasonable time frame inorder to deliver a statistical study. Work on the development of models that describe in-vessel issues is being pursued throughsimplified phenomena modelling, their verification and sensitivity studies. Recent activities related to PROCOR developmentinvolved cooperation between French CEA experts and Polish PhD students, who were engaged in the topics of core supportplate modelling and analysis of the phenomena occurring in a thin metallic layer on top of the corium pool. Those issueswere identified as strongly influencing the course of severe accidents and the timing of RPV failure. In some sensitivitystudies performed on a given generic high power Light Water Reactor with heavy reflector, two groups of RPV ruptures weredistinguished related to the two issues, which provided motivation for further work on these topics. The paper will presenta sensitivity study of corium propagation in order to identify the relevance of those two issues for the timing of RPV rupture.

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Published
2017-07-21
How to Cite
SKRZYPEK, Eleonora et al. In vessel corium propagation sensitivity study of reactor pressure vessel rupture time with PROCOR platform. Journal of Power Technologies, [S.l.], v. 97, n. 2, p. 110--116, july 2017. ISSN 2083-4195. Available at: <https://papers.itc.pw.edu.pl/index.php/JPT/article/view/844>. Date accessed: 20 apr. 2024.
Section
Nuclear Power

Keywords

Sensitivity study, PROCOR Platform, IVMR strategy

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