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Heat transfer and fluid flow aspects of fuel--coolant interactions. [LMFBR]

Technical Report ·
DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/6447603· OSTI ID:6447603
A major portion of the safety analysis effort for the LMFBR is involved in assessing the consequences of a Hypothetical Core Disruptive Accident (HCDA). The thermal interaction of the hot fuel and the sodium coolant during the HCDA is investigated in two areas. A postulated loss of flow transient may produce a two-phase fuel at high pressures. The thermal interaction phenomena between fuel and coolant as the fuel is ejected into the upper plenum are investigated. A postulated transient overpower accident may produce molten fuel being released into sodium coolant in the core region. An energetic coolant vapor explosion for these reactor materials does not seem likely. However, experiments using other materials (e.g., Freon/water, tin/water) have demonstrated the possibility of this phenomenon.
Research Organization:
Massachusetts Inst. of Tech., Cambridge (USA). Dept. of Nuclear Engineering
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE
DOE Contract Number:
EY-76-S-02-2781
OSTI ID:
6447603
Report Number(s):
COO-2781-12TR
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English