1. |
- Lønborg, C., et al.
(author)
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A global database of dissolved organic matter (DOM) concentration measurements in coastal waters (CoastDOM v1)
- 2024
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In: Earth System Science Data. - : Copernicus Publications. - 1866-3508 .- 1866-3516. ; 16:2, s. 1107-1119
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Measurements of dissolved organic carbon (DOC), nitrogen (DON), and phosphorus (DOP) concentrations are used to characterize the dissolved organic matter (DOM) pool and are important components ofbiogeochemical cycling in the coastal ocean. Here, we present the first edition of a global database (CoastDOMv1; available at https://doi.org/10.1594/PANGAEA.964012, Lønborg et al., 2023) compiling previously published and unpublished measurements of DOC, DON, and DOP in coastal waters. These data are complementedby hydrographic data such as temperature and salinity and, to the extent possible, other biogeochemical variables(e.g. chlorophyll a, inorganic nutrients) and the inorganic carbon system (e.g. dissolved inorganic carbon andtotal alkalinity). Overall, CoastDOM v1 includes observations of concentrations from all continents. However,most data were collected in the Northern Hemisphere, with a clear gap in DOM measurements from the SouthernHemisphere. The data included were collected from 1978 to 2022 and consist of 62 338 data points for DOC,20 356 for DON, and 13 533 for DOP. The number of measurements decreases progressively in the sequenceDOC > DON > DOP, reflecting both differences in the maturity of the analytical methods and the greater focuson carbon cycling by the aquatic science community. The global database shows that the average DOC concentration in coastal waters (average ± standard deviation (SD): 182±314 µmolC L−1; median: 103 µmolC L−1) is13-fold higher than the average coastal DON concentration (13.6 ± 30.4 µmol N L−1; median: 8.0 µmol N L−1),which is itself 39-fold higher than the average coastal DOP concentration (0.34 ± 1.11 µmol P L−1; median:0.18 µmol P L−1). This dataset will be useful for identifying global spatial and temporal patterns in DOM and willhelp facilitate the reuse of DOC, DON, and DOP data in studies aimed at better characterizing local biogeochemical processes; closing nutrient budgets; estimating carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorous pools; and establishing abaseline for modelling future changes in coastal waters.
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2. |
- Bechta, Sevostian, et al.
(author)
-
CORPHAD and METCOR ISTC projects
- 2005
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In: Proceedings of The first European Review Meeting on Severe Accident Research (ERMSAR-2005).
-
Conference paper (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The ongoing CORPHAD Project (Phase Diagrams for Multicomponent SystemsContaining Corium and Products of its Interaction with NPP Materials) started in August2001. The main aim of the project is to experimentally determine the relevantphysicochemical data on phase diagrams of binary, ternary, quaternary and prototypic multicomponent systems, which are important for analysis and modelling of a severe accident (SA)and efficient planning of severe accident management (SAM) measures. The data should bedirectly used for the European NUCLEA database development and validation. The followingsystems are in the focus of the project: (1) UO2 – FeO, (2) ZrO2 – FeO, (3) SiO2– Fe2O3, (4)UO2 – SiO2, (5) UO2 – ZrO2-FeO, (6) UO2 – ZrO2-FeOy, (7) U-O-Fe, (8) Zr-O-Fe, (9) U-OZr, (10) U-Zr-Fe-O, (11) complex corium mixtures.The experimentally determined data of the listed diagrams include: coordinates ofcharacteristic points (eutectics, peritectics and others); liquidus and solidus concentrationcurves; component solubility limits in the solid phase; tie line coordinates and temperatureconcentration regions of the miscibility gap. Different methodologies are used for the phasediagram study. Classical methods of thermal analysis, like DTA and DSC are combined withmethods specifically developed for corium studies.The METCOR project (Investigation of Corium Melt Interaction with NPP ReactorVessel Steel) started in April 1999. The objectives of the project are to qualify and to quantifyphysico-chemical phenomena of corium melt interaction with reactor vessel steel cooled fromthe outside. The variable parameters of the interaction tests are: oxygen potential in thesystem, corium composition, interaction interface temperature and heat flux from corium tosteel. The medium scale tests with corium mass of about 2 kg are carried out by using highfrequency induction heating of the corium melt in a cold crucible.The METCOR & CORPHAD work-packages are performed by Russian partners inclose collaboration with leading European scientific institutes in the area of corium researchas well as with the European nuclear industry.This paper briefly describes the results obtained in both projects and their possibleapplication for SA analysis and SAM. The paper concludes with recommendations for futureresearch activities in the framework of METCOR and CORPHAD projects.
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3. |
- Bechta, Sevostian, et al.
(author)
-
VVER steel corrosion during in-vessel retention of corium melt
- 2008
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In: Proceedings of the 3<sup>rd</sup> European Review Meeting on Severe Accident Research (ERMSAR 2008).
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Conference paper (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Physicochemical phenomena taking place at the corium-steel interaction during theexternal cooling of reactor vessel can result in high-temperature steel corrosion and thinningof the vessel wall. The ISTC METCOR project's experimental studies have shown that themain factors influencing corrosion depth and kinetics are oxygen potential, melt compositionand steel interfacial temperature but also melt – vessel heat flux.Experimental data are used for building a model for VVER vessel steel corrosion undercorium thermochemical loads and for correlations to quantitatively analyze the influence ofcorrosion on the rector vessel thinning. The finite-element calculations, in which thedeveloped models of corrosion and heat transfer in corium pool were used, were able toreproduce the temperature and stress-and-strain vessel condition.
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4. |
- Almyashev, V. I., et al.
(author)
-
Oxidation effects during corium melt in-vessel retention
- 2016
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In: Nuclear Engineering and Design. - : Elsevier. - 0029-5493 .- 1872-759X. ; 305, s. 389-399
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- In the in-vessel corium retention studies conducted on the Rasplav-3 test facility within the ISTC METCOR-P project and OECD MASCA program, experiments were made to investigate transient processes taking place during the oxidation of prototypic molten corium. Qualitative and quantitative data have been produced on the sensitivity of melt oxidation rate to the type of oxidant, melt composition, molten pool surface characteristics. The oxidation rate is a governing factor for additional heat generation and hydrogen release; also for the time of secondary inversion of oxidic and metallic layers of corium molten pool.
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5. |
- Bechta, Sevostian, et al.
(author)
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Corium phase equilibria based on MASCA, METCOR and CORPHAD results
- 2008
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In: Nuclear Engineering and Design. - : Elsevier BV. - 0029-5493 .- 1872-759X. ; 238:10, s. 2761-2771
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Experimental data on component partitioning between suboxidized corium melt and steel in the invessel melt retention (IVR) conditions are compared. The data are produced within the OECD MASCAprogram and the ISTC CORPHAD project under close-to-isothermal conditions and in the ISTC METCORproject under thermal gradient conditions. Chemical equilibrium in the U–Zr–Fe(Cr,Ni,. . .)–O system isreached in all experiments. In MASCA tests the molten pool formed under inert atmosphere has twoimmiscible liquids, oxygen-enriched (oxidic) and oxygen-depleted (metallic), resulting of the miscibilitygap of the mentioned system. Sub-system data of the U–Zr–Fe(Cr,Ni,. . .)–O phase diagram investigatedwithin the ISTC CORPHAD project are interpreted in relation with the MASCA results. In METCOR teststhe equilibrium is established between oxidic liquid and mushy metallic part of the system. Results ofcomparison are discussed and the implications for IVR noted.
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6. |
- Bechta, Sevostian, et al.
(author)
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Experimental study of interactions between suboxidized corium and reactor vessel steel
- 2006
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In: Proceedings of the 2006 International Congress on Advances in Nuclear Power Plants, ICAPP'06. - 0894486985 - 9780894486982 ; , s. 1355-1362
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Conference paper (peer-reviewed)abstract
- One of the critical factors in the analysis of in-vessel melt retention is the vessel strength. It is, in particular, sensitive to the thickness of intact vessel wall, which, in its turn, depends on the thermal conditions and physicochemical interactions with corium. Physicochemical interaction of prototypic UO2-ZrO2-Zr corium melt and VVER vessel steel was examined during the 2nd Phase of the ISTC METCOR Project. Rasplav-3 test facility was used for conducting four tests, in which the Zr oxidation degree and interaction front temperature were varied; in one of the tests, stainless steel was added to the melt. Direct experimental measurements and posttest analyses were used for determining corrosion kinetics and maximum corrosion depth (i.e. the physicochemical impact of corium on the cooled vessel steel specimens), as well as the steel temperature conditions during the interaction, and finally the structure and composition of crystallized ingots, including the interaction zone. The minimum temperature on the interaction front boundary, which determined its final position and maximum corrosion depth was ∼ 1090°C. An empirical correlation for calculation of corrosion kinetics has been derived.
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7. |
- Bechta, Sevostian, et al.
(author)
-
Interaction between molten corium UO2+X-ZrO2-FeO y and VVER vessel steel
- 2009
-
In: Proceeding of International Conference on Advances in Nuclear Power Plants, ICAPP 2008. - : Curran Associates, Inc.. - 9781605607870 ; , s. 210-218
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Conference paper (peer-reviewed)abstract
- In case of an in-vessel corium retention (1VR) the deterioration of vessel steel properties can be caused both by the steel melting and by its physicochemical interaction with corium. The interaction behavior has been studied in the medium-scale experiments with a prototypic corium within the METCOR project. The resulting experimental data give an insight into the steel corrosion during its interaction with U02+x- Zr02- FeOy melt in air and steam. It has been observed that the corrosion rate is almost the same in air and steam atmosphere; if the temperature on the interaction interface increases beyond a certain level, corrosion intensifies, which is explained by the formation of liquid phases in the interaction zone. The available experimental data have been used for developing a correlation of corrosion rate versus temperature and heat flux.
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8. |
- Bechta, Sevostian, et al.
(author)
-
INTERACTION BETWEEN MOLTEN CORIUM UO2+x-ZrO2-FeOy AND VVER VESSEL STEEL
- 2010
-
In: Nuclear Technology. - : American Nuclear Society. - 0029-5450 .- 1943-7471. ; 170:1, s. 210-218
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- In case of in-vessel corium retention during a severe accident in a light water reactor, weakening of the vessel wall and deterioration of the vessel steel properties can be caused both by the melting of the steel and by its physicochemical interaction with corium. The interaction behavior has been studied in medium-scale experiments with prototypic corium. The experiments yielded data for the steel corrosion rate during interaction with UO2+x-ZrO2-FeOy melt in air and steam at different steel surface temperatures and heat fluxes from the corium to the steel. It has been observed that the corrosion rates in air and steam atmosphere are almost the same. Further, if the temperature at the interface increases beyond a certain level, corrosion intensifies. This is explained by the formation of liquid phases in the interaction zone. The available experimental data have been used to develop a correlation for the corrosion rate as afunction of temperature and heat flux.
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9. |
- Bechta, Sevostian, et al.
(author)
-
VVER vessel steel corrosion at interaction with molten corium in oxidizing atmosphere
- 2009
-
In: Nuclear Engineering and Design. - : Elsevier BV. - 0029-5493 .- 1872-759X. ; 239:6, s. 1103-1112
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The long-term in-vessel corium retention (IVR) in the lower head bears a risk of the vessel wall deterioration caused by steel corrosion. The ISTC METCOR Project has studied physicochemical impact of prototypic coria having different compositions in air and steam and has generated valuable experimental data on vessel steel corrosion. It is found that the corrosion rate is sensitive to corium composition, but the composition of oxidizing above-melt atmosphere (air, steam) has practically no influence on it. A model of the corrosion process that integrates the experimental data, is proposed and used for development of correlations.
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10. |
- Buerger, M., et al.
(author)
-
Coolability of particulate beds in severe accidents : Status and remaining uncertainties
- 2010
-
In: Progress in nuclear energy (New series). - : Elsevier BV. - 0149-1970 .- 1878-4224. ; 52:1, s. 61-75
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Particulate debris beds may form during different stages of a severe core melt accident; e.g. in the degrading hot core, due to thermal stresses during reflooding, in the lower plenum, by melt flow from the core into water in the lower head, and in the cavity by melt flow out of a failing RPV into a wet cavity. Deep water pools in the cavity are used in Nordic BWRs as an accident management measure aiming at particulate debris formation and coolability. It has been elaborated in the joint work of the European Severe Accident Research Network (SARNET) in Work Package (WP) 11.1 that coolability of particulate debris, reflooding of hot debris as well as boil-off under decay heat (long-term coolability), is strongly favoured by 2D/3D effects in beds with non-homogeneous structure and shape. Especially, water inflow from the sides and via bottom regions strongly improves coolability as compared to 1D situations with top flooding, the latter being in the past the basis of analyses on coolability. Data from experiments included in the SARNET network (DEBRIS at IKE and STYX at VTT) and earlier ones (e.g. POMECO at KTH) have been used to validate key constitutive laws in 2D codes as WABE (IKE) and ICARE/CATHARE (IRSN), especially concerning flow friction and heat transfer. Major questions concern the need of the explicit use of interfacial friction to adequately treat the various flow situations in a unified approach, as well as the adequate characterization of realistic debris composed of irregularly shaped particles of different sizes. joint work has been supported by transfer of the WABE code to KTH and VTT. Concerning realistic debris, the formation from breakup of melt jets in water is investigated in the DEFOR experiments at KTH. Present results indicate that porosities in the debris might be much higher than previously assumed, which would strongly support attainment of coolability. Calculations have been performed with IKEJET/IKEMIX describing jet breakup, mixing and settling of resulting particles. Models about debris bed formation and porosity are developed at KTH. The codes have been applied to reactor conditions for analysing the potential for coolability in the different phases of a severe accident. Calculations have been performed with WABE (MEWA) implemented in ATHLET-CD and with ICARE/ICATHARE for degraded cores and debris beds in the lower plenum, under reflooding and boil-off. Ex-vessel situations have also been analysed. Strong effects of lateral water inflow and cooling by steam in hot areas have been demonstrated. In support, some typical basic configurations have been analysed, e.g. configurations with downcomers considered as possible AM measures. Melt pool formation or coolability of particulate debris is a major issue concerning melt retention in the core and the lower head. Present conclusions from those analyses for adequate modelling in ASTEC are outlined as well as remaining uncertainties. Experimental and analysis efforts and respective continued joint actions are discussed, which are needed to reach resolution of the coolability issue.
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11. |
- Fichot, F., et al.
(author)
-
A revised methodology to assess in-vessel retention strategy for high-power reactors
- 2018
-
In: PROCEEDINGS OF THE 26TH INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON NUCLEAR ENGINEERING, 18, VOL 7. - : The American Society of Mechanical Engineers. - 9780791851517
-
Conference paper (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The In-Vessel Retention (IVR) strategy for Light Water Reactors (LWR) intends to stabilize and isolate corium and fission products in the reactor pressure vessel and in the primary circuit. This type of Severe Accident Management (SAM) strategy has already been incorporated in the design and SAM guidances (SAMGs) of several operating small and medium capacity LWRs (reactors below 500 MWe, e.g. VVER440) and is part of the SAMG strategies for some Gen III+ PWRs of higher power such as the AP1000 or the APR1400. However, the demonstration of IVR feasibility for high power reactors requires using less conservative models as the safety margins are reduced. In Europe, the IVMR project aims at providing new experimental data and a harmonized methodology for IVR. A synthesis of the methodology applied to demonstrate the efficiency of IVR strategy for VVER-440 in Europe (Finland, Slovakia, Hungary and Czech Republic) was made. It showed very consistent results, following quite comparable methodologies. The main weakness was identified in the evaluation of the heat flux that could be reached in transient situations, e.g. under the "3-layers" configuration, where the "focusing effect" may cause higher heat fluxes than in steady-state (due to transient "thin" metal layer on top). Analyses of various designs of reactors with a power between 900 and 1300 MWe were also made. Different models for the description of the molten pool were used: homogeneous, stratified with fixed configuration, stratified with evolving configuration. The last type of model provides the highest heat fluxes (above 3 W/m(2)) whereas the first type provides the lowest heat fluxes (around 500 kW/m(2)) but this model is not realistic due to the immiscibility of molten steel with oxide melt. Obviously, there is a need to reach a consensus about best estimate practices for IVR assessment to be used in the major codes used for safety analysis, such as ASTEC, MELCOR, SOCRAT, MAAP, ATHLET-CD, SCDAP/RELAP, etc. Despite the model discrepancies, and leaving aside the unrealistic case of homogeneous pool, the average calculated heat fluxes can reach, in many cases, values which are well above 1 MW/m(2). This could reduce the residual thickness of the vessel considerably and threaten its strength and integrity. Therefore, it is clear that the safety demonstration of IVR in high power reactors requires a more careful evaluation of the situations which can lead to formation of either a very thin top metal layer provoking the focusing effect or significantly overheated metal, e.g. after oxide and metal layer inversion. Both situations are illustrated in this paper. The demonstration also requires an accurate thermo-mechanical analysis of the ablated vessel. The standard approach based on "yield stress" (plastic behaviour) is compared with more detailed calculations made on realistic profiles of ablated vessels. The validity of the standard approach is discussed. The current approach followed by many experts for IVR is a compromise between a deterministic analysis using the significant knowledge gained during the last two decades and a probabilistic analysis to take into account large uncertainties due to the lack of data for some physical phenomena, e.g. associated with molten pool transient behaviour, and due to excessive simplifications of models. A harmonization of the positions of safety authorities on the IVR strategy is necessary to allow decision making based on shared scientific knowledge. Some elements that might help to reach such harmonization are proposed in this paper, with a preliminary revision of the methodology that could be used to address the IVR issue. In the proposed revised methodology, the safety criterion is not based on a comparison of the heat flux and the Critical Heat Flux (CHF) profiles as in the current approaches but on the minimum vessel thickness reached after ablation and the maximum pressure load that is applied to the vessel during the transient. The main advantage of this revised criterion is in consideration of both steady-state and transient loads on the RPV. Another advantage is that this criterion is more straightforward to be used in a deterministic approach.
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12. |
- Fichot, F., et al.
(author)
-
Some considerations to improve the methodology to assess In-Vessel Retention strategy for high-power reactors
- 2018
-
In: Annals of Nuclear Energy. - : Elsevier. - 0306-4549 .- 1873-2100. ; 119, s. 36-45
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The In-Vessel Retention (IVR) strategy for Light Water Reactors (LWR) intends to stabilize and isolate corium and fission products in the reactor pressure vessel and in the primary circuit. This type of Severe Accident Management (SAM) strategy has already been incorporated in the SAM guidance (SAMG) of several operating small size LWR (reactor below 500 MWe (like VVER440)) and is part of the SAMG strategies for some Gen III + PWRs of higher power like the AP1000 or the APR1400. However, for high power reactors, estimations using current level of conservatism show that RPV failure caused by thermo-mechanical rupture takes place in some cases. A better estimation of the residual risk (probability of cases with vessel rupture) requires the use of models with a lower level of conservatism. In Europe, the IVMR project aims at providing new experimental data and a harmonized methodology for IVR. A synthesis of the methodology applied to demonstrate the efficiency of IVR strategy for VVER-440 in Europe (Finland, Slovakia, Hungary and Czech Republic) was made. It showed very consistent results, following quite comparable methodologies. The main weakness of the demonstration was identified in the evaluation of the heat flux that could be reached in transient situations, e.g. under the “3-layers” configuration, where the “focusing effect” may cause higher heat fluxes than in steady-state (due to transient “thin” metal layer on top). Analyses of various designs of reactors with a power between 900 and 1300 MWe were also made. Different models for the description of the molten pool were used: homogeneous, stratified with fixed configuration, stratified with evolving configuration. The last type of model provides the highest heat fluxes (above 3 MW/m2) whereas the first type provides the lowest heat fluxes (around 500 MW/m2) but is not realistic due to the non-miscibility of steel with UO2. Obviously, there is a need to reach a consensus about best estimate practices for IVR assessment to be used in the major codes for safety analysis, such as ASTEC, MELCOR, SOCRAT, MAAP, ATHLET-CD, SCDAP/RELAP, etc. Despite the model discrepancies, and leaving aside the unrealistic case of homogeneous pool, the average calculated heat fluxes in many cases are well above 1 MW/m2 which could reduce the residual thickness of the vessel considerably and threaten its integrity. Therefore, it is clear that the safety demonstration of IVR for high power reactors requires a more careful evaluation of the situations which can lead to formation of either a very thin top metal layer provoking focusing effect or significantly overheated metal, e.g. after oxide and metal layer inversion. It also requires an accurate mechanical analysis of the ablated vessel. The current approach followed by most experts for IVR is a compromise between a deterministic analysis using the significant knowledge gained during the last two decades and a probabilistic analysis to take into account large uncertainties due to the lack of data for some physical phenomena (such as transient effects) and due to excessive simplifications of models. A harmonization of the positions of safety authorities on the IVR strategy is necessary to allow decision making based on shared scientific knowledge. Currently, the acceptance criteria of a safety demonstration for IVR may be differently defined from one country to the other and the differences should be further discussed to reach harmonization on this important topic. This includes the accident scenarios to be considered in the demonstration and the modelling of the phenomena in the vessel. Such harmonization is one of the goals of IVMR project. A revised methodology is proposed, where the safety criterion is based not only on a comparison of the heat flux and the Critical Heat Flux (CHF) profiles as in current approaches but also on the minimum vessel thickness reached after ablation and the maximum integral loads that is applied to the vessel during the transient. The main advantage of this revised criterion is in consideration of both steady-state and transient loads on the RPV. Another advantage is that this criterion may be used in both probabilistic and deterministic approaches, whereas the current approaches are mostly deterministic (with deterministic calculations used only for estimates of uncertainty ranges of input parameters).
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13. |
- Journeau, C., et al.
(author)
-
European Research on the Corium issues within the SARNET network of excellence
- 2008
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In: International Conference on Advances in Nuclear Power Plants, ICAPP 2008. - 9781605607870 ; , s. 1172-1181
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Conference paper (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Within SARNET, the corium topic covers all the behaviors of corium from early phase of core degradation to in or ex-vessel corium recovery with the exception of corium interaction with water, direct containment heating and fission product release. The corium topic regroups in three work packages the critical mass of competence required to improve significantly the corium behavior knowledge. The spirit of the SARNET networking is to share the knowledge, the facilities and the simulation tools for severe accidents, so to reach a better efficiency and to rationalize the R&D effort at European level. Extensive benchmarking has been launched in most of the areas of research. These benchmarks were mainly dedicated to the recalculation of experiments, while, in the next periods, a larger focus will be given to integral experiments or reactor applications. Eventually, all the knowledge will be accumulated in the ASTEC severe accident simulation code through physical model improvements and extension of validation database. This paper summarizes the progress that has been achieved in the frame of the networking activities. A special focus is placed on the melt pool and debris coolability and corium-concrete interaction, in which, the effects due to multidimensional geometries and heterogeneities has been shown, during SARNET, to play a crucial role and for which further research is still needed.
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14. |
- Miassoedov, A., et al.
(author)
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Corium and debris coolability studies performed in the severe accident research network of excellence (SARNET2)
- 2012
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In: Proceedings Of The 20th International Conference On Nuclear Engineering And The ASME 2012 Power Conference - 2012, Vol 2. - : ASME Press. ; , s. 383-392
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Conference paper (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The motivation of the work performed within the work package "Corium and Debris Coolability" of the Severe Accident Research Network of Excellence (SARNET) is to reduce or possibly solve the remaining uncertainties on the efficiency of cooling reactor core structures and materials during severe accidents, either in the core, in the vessel lower head or in the reactor cavity, so as to limit the progression of the accident. This can be achieved either by ensuring corium retention within the reactor pressure vessel or at least by limiting the corium progression and the rate of corium release into the cavity. These issues are to be covered within the scope of accident management for existing reactors and within the scope of design and safety evaluation of future reactors. The specific objectives are to create and enhance the database on debris formation, debris coolability and corium behavior in the lower head, to develop and validate the models and computer codes for simulation of in-vessel debris bed and melt pool behavior, to perform reactor scale analysis for in-vessel corium coolability and to assess the influence of severe accident management measures on in-vessel coolability. The work being performed within this work package comprises experimental and modeling activities with strong cross coupling between the tasks. Substantial knowledge and understanding of governing phenomena concerning coolability of intact rod-like reactor core geometry was obtained in previous projects. Hence the main thrust of experimental and modeling efforts concentrates mainly on the study of formation and cooling of debris beds in order to demonstrate effective cooling modes, cooling rates and coolability limits. Modeling efforts have been aimed at assessing and validating the models in system-level and detailed codes for core degradation, oxidation and debris behavior. The paper describes the work performed up to now and summarizes the main results achieved so far.
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