Superheat effects on localized vessel breach enlargement during corium ejection

Conference · Wed Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1986 · Trans. Am. Nucl. Soc.; (United States)

OSTI ID:6623238

Sienicki, J J; Spencer, B W

The evaluation of the consequences of hypothetical severe accident sequences in light water reactors includes those sequences in which molten corium is postulated to melt through the reactor pressure vessel (RPV) lower head and enter the region beneath the RPV. An important issue is the mode by which the lower head is breached and molten corium introduced into the reactor cavity (PWR) or pedestal (BWR). Reported here are the results of an investigation into the dependency of ablation-induced enlargement on the initial corium temperature, or more specifically, the initial corium superheat (i.e., excess temperature above the freezing temperature). A model is introduced here to predict the vessel erosion and is employed to scope the effects of variations in the superheat.

• Research Organization: Argonne National Lab., IL
• OSTI ID: 6623238
• Report Number(s): CONF-860610-
• Conference Information: Journal Name: Trans. Am. Nucl. Soc.; (United States) Journal Volume: 52
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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