Spreading of molten corium in MK I geometry following vessel melt-through

Conference · Fri Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1988 · Trans. Am. Nucl. Soc.; (United States)

OSTI ID:5767590

Sienicki, J J; Farmer, M T; Spencer, B W

For Mk I boiling water reactor severe-accident sequences in which molten corium is postulated to melt through the reactor pressure vessel (RPV) lower head, an important question concerns the relocation of the corium material that drains from the vessel. After filling the sump pits located in the pedestal concrete floor beneath the RPV, the molten corium that collects on the pedestal floor is generally free to flow through the doorway, which provides personnel access to the pedestal, and to spread out over the concrete floor in the annular region between the pedestal wall and the steel liner of the containment shell. A significant issue is whether the corium, after exiting the doorway, can spread under gravity all the way to the liner where thermal attack on the liner steel might be postulated to occur. A computer code (MELTSPREAD) has been developed to investigate the spreading dynamics and thermal interactions of a molten corium layer flowing horizontally over an ablating concrete substrate that may be initially covered with water. The principal objective is to predict, for specific conditions of corium composition, mass, and temperature, the lateral penetration of the corium that drains from a localized hole in the lower head immediately following RPV failure.

• Research Organization: Argonne National Lab., IL (USA)
• OSTI ID: 5767590
• Report Number(s): CONF-881011-
• Conference Information: Journal Name: Trans. Am. Nucl. Soc.; (United States) Journal Volume: 57
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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