MELPROG analysis of the debris formation experiment DF-1

Conference · Thu Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1987

OSTI ID:6045721

Heames, T J; Gauntt, R O

The MELPROG code is being developed jointly at Sandia National Laboratories and Los Alamos National Laboratory to provide the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission (USNRC) with an integrated analysis model for light water reactor (LWR) severe fuel damage (SFD) accidents. MELPROG is a mechanistic code, based upon detailed physics models, that will calculate the progression of a core uncovered accident including the multidimensional thermal hydraulics, core degradation, loss of geometry, melting of the core rods, debris formation, radionuclide release and transport, attack of the support structure, core slumping, melt-water interactions, and vessel failure. Additionally MELPROG can be coupled to the TRAC code to treat fission product transport and the thermal hydraulics of the reactor coolant system (RCS). As part of this development effort, the phenomenological modelling in the code is undergoing extensive assessment. This assessment effort involves comparing the data from experimental programs with code predictions to validate the models used and to identify areas of needed model improvement. An important component of this effort is the assessment of the models used to describe the fuel rod heat-up, melting, and relocation phases of an uncovered accident. The Damaged Fuel (DF) experiments are examples of experiments being performed to address these issues. This paper describes a posttest MELPROG analysis of the first of these tests. 6 refs., 9 figs., 2 tabs.

• Research Organization: Sandia National Labs., Albuquerque, NM (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: AC04-76DP00789
• OSTI ID: 6045721
• Report Number(s): SAND-87-2330C; CONF-8710111-5; ON: DE88002411
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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