In-vessel loads resulting from molten fuel coolant/structure interactions
- European Commission, Ispra (Italy). Joint Research Centre
One of the objectives of the FARO project at JRC-Ispra is to help determine the thermal and pressure loads on RPVs resulting from molten fuel coolant/structure interactions. Quantities from 3 to 150 kg of UO{sub 2}-ZrO{sub 2}-(Zr) melts are used in wet and dry conditions in the FARO (large scale) and KROTOS (small scale) facilities. Then discharge of the melt from a degraded core to the lower plenum is simulated. The induced thermal load on the bottom is studied in FARO as a function of the height of water present in the lower head, which is varied from 0 (dry conditions) to 2 m. The quasi-static pressurization of the vessel due to steam generation during melt/water quenching is measured. Dynamic pressure loading resulting from energetic FCIs are studied at small scale in KROTOS. In the future, this work should be extended to a large scale. The paper synthesizes the results obtained.
- OSTI ID:
- 131850
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-950740--; ISBN 0-7918-1334-7
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
A Model for Molten Fuel-Coolant Interaction during Melt Slumping in a Nuclear Reactor
A Model for Molten Fuel-Coolant Interaction during Melt Slumping in a Nuclear Reactor