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Use of SCDAP/RELAP5 results in severe accident-induced tube rupture risk assessment

Journal Article · · Transactions of the American Nuclear Society
OSTI ID:552620
;  [1]
  1. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Rockville, MD (United States)

This study was conducted to provide the basis for an estimate of the containment bypass risk presented by severe accident-induced steam generator tube rupture. During severe accidents, components can be heated to the extent that induced rupture might occur as a result of the combined effects of pressure and temperature. The potential for tube failure can be exacerbated by flaws in the tubes and by depressurization of the secondary system since pressure differential across the tubes is increased. SCDAP/RELAP5 analyses were performed to predict reactor coolant system (RCS) conditions during station black-out (SBO) sequences using a plant model for Surry. The steam generator tube creep rupture model in SCDAP/RELAP5 was not directly applicable to this assessment since it does not account for tube flaws. Therefore, a separate tube failure model was used to predict tube creep failure. This model used the same Larson-Miller approach applied in SCDAP/RELAP5 but is based on high-temperature tube burst experiments of flawed tubes. The results were then applied to determine tube failure probability and subsequent containment bypass potential resulting from severe accident conditions.

OSTI ID:
552620
Report Number(s):
CONF-971125--
Journal Information:
Transactions of the American Nuclear Society, Journal Name: Transactions of the American Nuclear Society Vol. 77; ISSN 0003-018X; ISSN TANSAO
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English