The impact of heat transfer models on core/concrete interaction

Journal Article · Sat Aug 01 04:00:00 EDT 1987 · Nucl. Technol.; (United States)

OSTI ID:5456236

Kao, L; Kazimi, M S

Analyses of the concrete attack and ex-vessel aerosol release using various assumptions for the molten corium/concrete interaction have been performed. The study involved variations in several parameters, such as initial debris temperature, amount of unoxidized zirconium, amount of melt, concrete ablation temperature, and concrete type. At high initial corium temperatures the periodic contact (nucleate-boiling-like) model leads to more rapid concrete attack, higher decomposition gas release, and higher fission product release than the gas film model. At low initial corium temperatures, when a corium crust is initially formed, the various heat transfer models do not lead to significant differences in the fission product releases. Besides the initial debris temperature, the most significant parameter in prediction of the fission product release is the amount of unoxidized zirconium. Among the various fission products, the nonvolatiles, such as lanthanum, are more sensitive to changes in the parameters.

• Research Organization: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Nuclear Engineering, Cambridge, MA 02139 (USA)
• OSTI ID: 5456236
• Journal Information: Nucl. Technol.; (United States), Journal Name: Nucl. Technol.; (United States) Vol. 78:2; ISSN NUTYB
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS
220900* -- Nuclear Reactor Technology-- Reactor Safety
AEROSOLS
BOILING
BUILDING MATERIALS
COLLOIDS
CONCRETES
CORIUM
DISPERSIONS
ELEMENTS
ENERGY TRANSFER
FISSION PRODUCT RELEASE
FISSION PRODUCTS
HEAT TRANSFER
INTERACTIONS
ISOTOPES
LANTHANUM
MATERIALS
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
METALS
NUCLEATE BOILING
PHASE TRANSFORMATIONS
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS
RARE EARTHS
REACTOR COMPONENTS
REACTOR CORES
REACTOR SAFETY
SAFETY
SOLS
THERMODYNAMIC PROPERTIES
THERMODYNAMICS
TRANSITION ELEMENTS
ZIRCONIUM