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Loss-of-coolant accident experiment at the AVR gas-cooled reactor

Conference ·
OSTI ID:7027933
 [1];  [2]
  1. Arbeitsgemeinschaft Versuchs-Reaktor GmbH, Juelich (Germany, F.R.)
  2. Oak Ridge National Lab., TN (USA)
A landmark safety test has been conducted at the AVR-reactor, a high-temperature gas-cooled reactor (HTGR) in the Federal Republic of Germany owned by the Arbeitsgemeinschaft Versuchsreaktor, AVR in Juelich. The 46-MW(t), 15-MW(e) AVR reactor was subjected to a simulated loss-of-coolant accident (LOCA), a very severe occurrence in which the coolant escapes from the reactor core and no emergency system provides coolant flow to the core. The test, which demonstrated the inherently safe response of this reactor to a LOCA, marked the first time ever that a reactor has been intentionally subjected to loss-of-coolant conditions without emergency cooling. Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) and General Atomics participated in the test by working with AVR staff by jointly performing the analyses needed to obtain the license to conduct the test and by performing post test analyses. This participation was carried out under the cooperative AVR Subprogram which is conducted within the US/FRG Agreement for Cooperation in Gas-Cooled Reactor Development. 7 figs.
Research Organization:
Oak Ridge National Lab., TN (USA)
Sponsoring Organization:
DOE/NE
DOE Contract Number:
AC05-84OR21400
OSTI ID:
7027933
Report Number(s):
CONF-900917-3; ON: DE90012732
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English