Validation of core debris/concrete interactions and source term models

Conference · Sun Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1989

OSTI ID:6232931

Powers, D. A.; Bradley, D. R.; Brockmann, J. E.; Copus, E. R.; Greene, G. A.; Burson, S. B.

The need for improved models of core debris interactions with concrete has been met by several computer codes. In this paper, the status of validation of one of these codes, CORCON, will be discussed. The phenomenon that the CORCON code and the other core debris/concrete interactions codes attempt to model is the thermal attack on concrete by an internally heated, chemically reacting, molten mixture of metals (steel and unoxidized zirconium cladding) and oxides (UO/sub 2/ and ZrO/sub 2/, predominantly). Two key features of the models that must be validated if confidence is to be placed in the model predictions are the (1) heat transfer from core debris, and (2) heat generation especially that caused by chemical reactions. A third key feature, the release of radionuclides during core debris/concrete interactions, is not explicitly addressed in this paper. 23 refs., 6 figs.

• Research Organization: Sandia National Labs., Albuquerque, NM (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: AC04-76DP00789
• OSTI ID: 6232931
• Report Number(s): SAND-89-1194C; CONF-890546-6; ON: DE89011882
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS
220900* -- Nuclear Reactor Technology-- Reactor Safety
99 GENERAL AND MISCELLANEOUS
990220 -- Computers
Computerized Models
& Computer Programs-- (1987-1989)
ACCIDENTS
ACTINIDE COMPOUNDS
BUILDING MATERIALS
C CODES
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CARBON MONOXIDE
CARBON OXIDES
CHALCOGENIDES
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
COMPUTER CODES
CONCRETES
CORIUM
ELEMENTS
ENERGY TRANSFER
FLUID MECHANICS
FUEL CANS
HEAT TRANSFER
HYDRAULICS
HYDROGEN
INTERFACES
MATERIALS
MECHANICS
MELTDOWN
NONMETALS
NUCLEAR FACILITIES
NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
POWER PLANTS
REACTOR ACCIDENTS
REACTOR COMPONENTS
REACTOR CORES
REACTOR SAFETY
SAFETY
SOURCE TERMS
THERMAL POWER PLANTS
TRANSITION ELEMENT COMPOUNDS
URANIUM COMPOUNDS
URANIUM DIOXIDE
URANIUM OXIDES
ZIRCONIUM COMPOUNDS
ZIRCONIUM OXIDES