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Assessment of RELAP5/MOD3/V5M5 against the UPTF Test No. 11 (countercurrent flow in PWR hot leg)

Technical Report ·
OSTI ID:10163345
 [1]
  1. Siemens AG-KWU Group, Erlangen (DE)

Analysis of the UPTF Test No. 11 using the {open_quotes}best-estimate{close_quotes} computer code RELAP5/MOD3/Version 5M5 is presented. Test No. 11 was a quasi-steady state, separate effect test designed to investigate the conditions for countercurrent flow of steam and saturated water in the hot leg of a PWR. Without using the code`s new countercurrent flow limitation (CCFL) model, RELAP5/MOD3/V5M5 overestimated the mass flow rate of back down flowing water up to 35% (1.5 MPa runs) and 43% (0.3 MPa runs). This is the most obvious difference to RELAP5/MOD2, which did not allow enough countercurrent flow. From the point of view of performing plant calculations this is certainty an improvement, because the new junction-based CCFL option could be used to restrict the flows to a flooding curve defined by a user-supplied correlation. Very good agreement with the experimental data for 1.5 MPa -- which are relevant for SBLOCA reflux condensation conditions -- could be obtained using the code`s new CCFL option in the middle of the inclined part (riser) of the hot leg. Using the same CCFL correlation for the simulation of 0.3 MPa test series -- typical for reflood conditions -- the code underestimated by 44% the steam mass flow rate at which complete liquid carry over occurs. An unphysical result was received using a CCFL correlation of the Wallis type with the intercept C = 0.644 and the slope m = 0.8. The unphysical prediction is an indication of possible programming errors in the CCFL model of the RELAP5/MOD3/V5M5 computer code.

Research Organization:
Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC (United States). Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research; Siemens AG Unternehmensbereich KWU, Erlangen (Germany)
Sponsoring Organization:
Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC (United States)
OSTI ID:
10163345
Report Number(s):
NUREG/IA--0116; KWU--E412/91/E1002; ON: TI93014893
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English