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U.S. Department of Energy
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Blowdown hydraulic influence on core thermal response in LOFT nuclear experiment L2-3. [PWR]

Conference ·
OSTI ID:6117240
Experimental research into pressurized water reactor (PWR) loss-of-coolant phenomena conducted in the Loss-of-Fluid Test (LOFT) facility has given results indicating that for very large pipe breaks the core thermal response is tightly coupled to the fluid hydraulic phenomena during the blowdown phase of the loss-of-coolant transient. This summary presents and discusses data supporting this conclusion. LOFT Loss-of-Coolant Experiment (LOCE) L2-3 simulated a complete double-ended offset shear break of a primary coolant reactor vessel inlet pipe in a commercial PWR. The LOFT system conditions at experiment initiation were: fuel rod maximum linear heat generation rate (MLHGR) of 39.4 +- 3 kW/m, hot leg temperature of 593 +- 3 K, core ..delta..T of 32.2 +- 4 K, system pressure of 15.06 +- 0.03 MPa, and flow rate/system volume of 25.6 +- 0.8 kg/m/sup 3/. These conditions are typical of those in commercial PWR systems at normal operating conditions.
Research Organization:
Idaho National Engineering Lab., Idaho Falls (USA)
DOE Contract Number:
EY-76-C-07-1570
OSTI ID:
6117240
Report Number(s):
CONF-791103-27(Summ.)
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English