PCCS model development for SBWR using the CONTAIN code
- Sandia National Labs., Albuquerque, NM (United States)
The General Electric Simplified Boiling Water Reactor (SBWR) employs a passive containment cooling system (PCCS) to maintain long-term containment gas pressure and temperature below design limits during accidents. This system consists of a steam supply line that connects the upper portion of the drywell with a vertical shell-and-tube single pass heat exchanger located in an open water pool outside of the containment safety envelope. The heat exchanger tube outlet is connected to a vent line that is submerged below the suppression pool surface but above the main suppression pool horizontal vents. Steam generated in the post-shutdown period flows into the heat exchanger tubes as the result of suction and/or a low pressure differential between the drywell and suppression chamber. Operation of the PCCS is complicated by the presence of noncondensables in the flow stream. Build-up of noncondensables in the exchanger and vent line for the periods when the vent is not cleared causes a reduction in the exchanger heat removal capacity. As flow to the exchanger is reduced due to the noncondensable gas build-up, the drywell pressure increases until the vent line is cleared and the noncondensables are purged into the suppression chamber, restoring the heat removal capability of the PCCS. This paper reports on progress made in modeling SBWR containment loads using the CONTAIN code. As a central part of this effort, a PCCS model development effort has recently been undertaken to implement an appropriate model in CONTAIN. The CONTAIN PCCS modeling approach is discussed and validated. A full SBWR containment input deck has also been developed for CONTAIN. The plant response to a postulated design basis accident (DBA) has been calculated with the CONTAIN PCCS model and plant deck, and the preliminary results are discussed.
- Research Organization:
- Sandia National Labs., Albuquerque, NM (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC04-94AL85000
- OSTI ID:
- 10147072
- Report Number(s):
- SAND-93-1833C; CONF-940402-24; ON: DE94010802; TRN: 94:005079
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: International topical meeting on the safety of advanced reactors,Pittsburgh, PA (United States),18-20 Apr 1994; Other Information: PBD: [1994]
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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