Transient cooling of reactor vessel wall during LOCA

Abstract

The article describes a multistage modelling methodology proposed by the author for the modelling of emergency core cooling processes. The methodology is based on the best practice guidelines presented by the IAEA, it is applied to a specific scenario of emergency core cooling during a loss of coolant accident [1] with an effective break diameter of 20mm. A 3D thermohydraulic analysis was performed as the first step in the solution process, where the transient changes in the pressure, velocity and temperature fields within the reactor pressure vessel were studied [2]. The primary knowledge learned when processing the results of the first step, was the presence of an oscillating cold coolant stripe in close proximity to the pressure vessel wall. The next step in the methodology consisted of a three-dimensional thermomechanical analysis of the reactor pressure vessel [3]. In this step, pressure thermal shock induced critical zones of mechanical loading were identified and the influence of the oscillatory character of the cold stripe on the pressure vessel was studied. The last step of the methodology consisted of a fracture mechanics analysis of postulated defects during the pressure thermal shock. Acquired results from the final step shown, that the postulated defects' sensitivity to the oscillatory nature of the cold stripe is highly dependent on the postulated defect's orientation.

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