Accident progression for a loss of heat sink with scram in a LMFBR

Technical Report · Sun Oct 01 04:00:00 EDT 1978

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/6399869· OSTI ID:6399869

Bari, R. A.; Ludewig, H.; Pratt, W. T.; Sun, Y. H.

A description of a slow core meltdown in a liquid metal fast breeder reactor is presented for the conditions of loss-of-heat-sink following neutronic shutdown. Simple models are developed for the prediction of phase changes and/or relocation of the core materials including fuel, clad, ducts, control rod absorber material (B/sub 4/C), and plenum gases. The sequence of events is accounted for and the accident progression is described up to the point of recriticality. The neutronic behavior of the disrupted core is analyzed in R-Z geometry with a static transport theory code (TWOTRAN). For most scenarios assessed, the reactor is expected to become recritical although large ramp rates are not anticipated.

• Research Organization: Brookhaven National Lab., Upton, NY (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: EY-76-C-02-0016
• OSTI ID: 6399869
• Report Number(s): NUREG/CR-0427; BNL-NUREG-50910
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS
210500 -- Power Reactors
Breeding
22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS
220900* -- Nuclear Reactor Technology-- Reactor Safety
ACCIDENTS
BREEDER REACTORS
EPITHERMAL REACTORS
FAST REACTORS
FBR TYPE REACTORS
LIQUID METAL COOLED REACTORS
LMFBR TYPE REACTORS
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
MELTDOWN
REACTIVITY
REACTOR ACCIDENTS
REACTOR SHUTDOWN
REACTORS
SCRAM
SHUTDOWNS