Condensation from a large HCDA vapor-gas bubble onto structures. [LMFBR]

Conference · Sun Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1978

OSTI ID:6525973

Oezisik, M N; Kress, T S; White, J S

A mechanistic assessment of the consequences of a Hypothetical Core Disruptive Accident (HCDA) for a sodium-cooled breeder reactor will require analyses that determine the quantity of fuel released from the primary containment. This release is due to fuel melting, vaporization, and movement through the sodium pool and leakage through the assumed damaged vessel head closure. According to some views, this fuel may move through the cooler sodium pool as a large fuel vapor bubble containing non-condensable fission gases. There is potential for removal of the radionuclide source during this transport by condensation onto structural material (i.e., instrument carriers, control rod drives, support structures, etc.) as well as at the bubble interface. Previous analyses have estimated the condensation rates at the bubble interface. The work described extends a previous model to condensation on structural surfaces in the bubble path. The results of the analysis show that the condensation model for thick steel structures yields similar results as the previous model for condensation on the bubble interface. Due to the high thermal conductivities of both sodium and steel, the mass transfer on the vapor side becomes the controlling factor for condensation. In the case of thin steel structures, the interface temperature rise becomes significant (melting temperatures may be reached) due to the limited heat sink provided by the structure.

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge National Lab., TN (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-26
• OSTI ID: 6525973
• Report Number(s): CONF-781105-58
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

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ACCIDENTS
BREEDER REACTORS
BUBBLE GROWTH
BUBBLES
ENERGY TRANSFER
EPITHERMAL REACTORS
FAST REACTORS
FBR TYPE REACTORS
FLUID MECHANICS
HEAT TRANSFER
HYDRODYNAMICS
LIQUID METAL COOLED REACTORS
LMFBR TYPE REACTORS
MECHANICS
REACTOR ACCIDENTS
REACTOR CORE DISRUPTION
REACTORS
THERMODYNAMICS
VAPOR CONDENSATION