Modeling of core debris-sodium-concrete interactions

Conference · Sun Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1984

OSTI ID:6338967

Cheung, F B; Pedersen, D R; Nguyen, D H

The interactions between sodium and concrete in the presence of heat-generating core debris resulting from a postulated core meltdown accident in a sodium-cooled fast reactor are complex yet important phenomena relevant to several key safety issues. In particular, the attack of sodium and of core debris on the concrete basemat below the reactor cavity, the generation of hydrogen gas, and the pressurization of the reactor building as a result of the interactions represent, among others, the major sources that provide a challenge to containment integrity. Thus far, no physical model has been developed to describe the nature and the extent of sodium-concrete interactions wth core debris present. It is the purpose of this study to provide a complete physical description of the scenario involved in the core debris-sodium-concrete interactions, starting from the chemical erosion phase through the molten pool formation phase to the long-term melt penetration phase.

• Research Organization: Argonne National Lab., IL (USA); Hanford Engineering Development Lab., Richland, WA (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: W-31109-ENG-38
• OSTI ID: 6338967
• Report Number(s): CONF-841174-3; ON: DE85000076
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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