Effect analysis of the intentional depressurization on fission product behavior during TMLB' severe accident

It has been found that the pressure in the reactor coolant system (RCS) remains high in some severe accident sequences at the time of reactor vessel failure, with the risk of causing direct containment heating (DCH).Intentional depressurization is an effective accident management strategy to prevent DCH or to mitigate its consequences. Fission product behavior is affected by intentional depressurization, especially for inert gas and volatile fission product. Because the pressurizer power-operated relief valves (PORVs) are latched open, fission product will transport into the containment directly. This may cause larger radiological consequences in containment before reactor vessel failure. Four cases are selected, including the TMLB' base case and the opening one, two and three pressurizer PORVs. The results show that inert gas transports into containment more quickly when opening one and two PORVs,but more slowly when opening three PORVs; more volatile fission product deposit in containment and less in reactor coolant system (RCS) for intentional depressurization cases. When opening one PORV, the phenomenon of revaporization is strong in the RCS.     

Evaluation of intentional depressurization strategy in Chinese 600 MWe PWR NPP

Intentional depressurization is one of the effective strategies in preventing high-pressure melt ejection (HPME) and direct containment heating (DCH), which is most feasible for the operating nuclear power plants (NPPs) in China. In order to evaluate this strategy of a Chinese 600 MWe PWR NPP, the plant model is built using SCDAP/RELAP5 code. ATWS, SBO, SGTR and SLOCA are selected as the base cases for analysis of intentional depressurization. The results show that opening safety valves of pressurizer manually when the core exit temperature exceeds 922 K can reduce the RCS pressure effectively and prevent the occurrence of HPME and DCH. Several uncertainties such as the operability of safety valves, ex-vessel failure and the transitory rise of RCS pressure are also analyzed subsequently. The results show that the opening of the safety valves can be initiated normally and that opening three safety valves is a more favorable strategy in the event of possible failure of one or more of the safety valves; the probability of ex-vessel failure is reduced after intentional depressurization is implemented; the transitory rising of reactor coolant system (RCS) pressure when the molten core materials relocate to the lower head of reactor pressure vessel (RPV) will not influence the effect of depressurization.     

AP1000核电厂大量放射性释放源项分析

在AP1000核电厂的某些严重事故情景中,安全壳可能发生失效或旁通,导致大量放射性物质释放到环境中,造成严重的放射性污染。针对大量放射性释放频率贡献最大的3种释放类别（安全壳旁通、安全壳早期失效和安全壳隔离失效）,分别选取典型的严重事故序列（蒸汽发生器传热管破裂、自动卸压系统阀门误开启和压力容器破裂）,使用MAAP程序计算分析了释放到环境中的裂变产物源项。该分析结果为量化AP1000核电厂的放射性释放后果和厂外剂量分析提供了必要的输入。     

严重事故下蠕变诱发RCS破裂的概率评估

严重事故下一回路管道可能会发生蠕变失效,若出现蠕变诱发的蒸汽发生器传热管破裂（SGTR）,则会导致安全壳旁路失效;若出现蠕变诱发热段或波动管的失效,则产生的破口将会使一回路迅速卸压。因此,评估严重事故下蠕变诱发反应堆冷却剂系统（RCS）破裂的可能性是开展严重事故分析、特别是二级概率安全分析（PSA）的重要基础。本工作基于蠕变失效模型,考虑传热管的缺陷,建立了评价蠕变诱发RCS破裂的确定论模型。在此基础上,运用拉丁超立方体抽样方法,考虑重要参数的不确定性,开发了严重事故下蠕变诱发RCS破裂的概率评估程序。随后对典型的事故序列进行了蠕变诱发RCS破裂的概率评估。结果表明,对于高压事故序列,存在一定的蠕变诱发SGTR概率,也存在较高的蠕变诱发热段或波动管失效概率。     

基于氢气风险分析的ADS手动卸压策略研究

先进非能动压水堆设计采用自动卸压系统(ADS)对一回路进行卸压,严重事故下主控室可手动开启ADS,缓解高压熔堆风险。然而ADS的设计特点可能导致氢气在局部隔间积聚,带来局部氢气风险。本文基于氢气负面效应考虑,对利用ADS进行一回路卸压的策略进行研究,为严重事故管理提供技术支持。选取全厂断电始发的典型高压熔堆严重事故序列,利用一体化事故分析程序,评估手动开启第1~4级ADS、手动开启第1~3级ADS、手动开启第4级ADS 3种方案的卸压效果,并分析一回路卸压对安全壳局部隔间的氢气负面影响。研究结果表明,3种卸压方案均能有效降低一回路压力。但在氢气点火器不可用时,开启第1~3级ADS以及开启第1~4级ADS卸压会引起内置换料水箱隔间氢气浓度迅速增加,可能导致局部氢气燃爆。因此,基于氢气风险考虑,建议在实施严重事故管理导则一回路卸压策略时优先考虑采用第4级ADS进行一回路卸压。     

Evaluation of the RCS depressurization strategy for the high pressure sequences by using SCDAP/RELAP5

As part of the evaluation for a severe accident management strategy, a reactor coolant system (RCS) depressurization in optimized power reactor (OPR)1000 has been evaluated by using the SCDAP/RELAP5 computer code. An indirect RCS depressurization by a secondary depressurization by using a feed and bleed operation has been estimated for a small break loss of coolant accident (LOCA) without a safety injection (SI). Also, a direct RCS depressurization by using the safety depressurization system (SDS) has been estimated for the total loss of feed water (LOFW). The SCDAP/RELAP5 results have shown that the secondary feed and bleed operation can depressurize the RCS, but it cannot depressurize the RCS sufficiently enough. For this reason, a greater direct RCS depressurization by using the SDS is necessary for the 1.35 in. break LOCA without SI. A proper RCS depressurization time and capacity leads to a delay in the reactor vessel failure time from 7.5 to 10.7 h. An opening of two SDS valves can depressurize the RCS sufficiently enough and the proper RCS depressurization time and capacity leads to a delay in the reactor vessel failure time of approximately 5 h for the total LOFW. An opening of one SDS valve cannot depressurize the RCS sufficiently enough.     

Detailed evaluation of coolant injection into the reactor vessel with RCS depressurization for high pressure sequences

A coolant injection into the reactor vessel with depressurization of the reactor coolant system (RCS) has been evaluated as part of the evaluation for a strategy of the severe accident management guidance (SAMG). Two high pressure sequences of a small break loss of coolant accident (LOCA) without safety injection (SI) and a total loss of feedwater (LOFW) accident in Optimized Power Reactor (OPR)1000 have been analyzed by using the SCDAP/RELAP5 computer code. The SCDAP/RELAP5 results have shown that only one train operation of a high pressure safety injection at 30,000 s with indirect RCS depressurization by using one condenser dump valve (CDV) at 6  min after implementation of the SAMG prevents reactor vessel failure for the small break LOCA without SI. In this case, only one train operation of the low pressure safety injection (LPSI) without the high pressure safety injection (HPSI) does not prevent reactor vessel failure. Only one train operation of the HPSI at 20,208 s with direct RCS depressurization by using two SDS valves at 40 min after an initial opening of the safety relief valve (SRV) prevents reactor vessel failure for the total LOFW.     

Effectiveness and adverse effects of in-vessel retention strategies under a postulated SGTR accident of an OPR1000

During a steam generator tube rupture (SGTR) accident, direct release of radioactive nuclides into the environment is postulated via bypassing the containment building. This conveys a significant threat in severe accident management (SAM) for minimization of radionuclide release. To mitigate this risk, a numerical assessment of SAM strategies was performed for an SGTR accident of an Optimized Power Reactor 1000 MWe (OPR1000) using MELCOR code. Three in-vessel mitigation strategies were evaluated and the effect of delayed operation action was analyzed. The MELCOR calculations showed that activation of a prompt secondary feed and bleed (F&B) operation using auxiliary feed water and use of an atmospheric dump valve could prevent core degradation. However, depressurization using the safety depressurization system could not prevent core degradation, and the injection of coolant via high-pressure safety injection without the use of reactor coolant system (RCS) depressurization increased fission product release. When mitigation action was delayed by 30 minutes after SAMG entrance, a secondary F&B operation failed in depressurizing the RCS sufficiently, and a significant amount of fission products were released into the environment. These results suggest that appropriate mitigation actions should be applied in a timely manner to achieve the optimal mitigation effects.     

增强IVR有效性的堆内注水策略研究

熔融物堆内滞留（IVR）是一项核电厂重要的严重事故管理措施,通过将熔融物滞留在压力容器内,以保证压力容器完整性,并防止某些可能危及安全壳完整性的堆外现象。对于高功率和熔池中金属量相对不足的反应堆,若下封头形成3层熔池结构,则其顶部薄金属层导致的聚焦效应可能对压力容器完整性带来更大的威胁。本文考虑通过破口倒灌及其他工程措施实现严重事故下熔池顶部水冷却,建立熔池传热模型,分析顶部注水的带热能力,建立事件树,分析顶部注水措施的成功概率及IVR的有效性。结果表明,通过压力容器内外同时水冷熔融物,能显著增强IVR措施的有效性。     

Sensitivity study of melt behavior of Fukushima Daiichi unit 1 type accident with MELCOR code and MPS method

Sensitivity calculation on melt behavior and lower head response at Fukushima Daiichi unit 1 reactor was performed with methods for estimation of leakages and consequences of releases (MELCOR) 2.1 and moving particle semi-implicit (MPS) method. Four sensitivity cases were calculated, considering safety relief valve (SRV) seizure, penetrations and debris porosity. The results indicated that the lower head failed due to creep rupture, not considering penetrations; otherwise it would have failed due to penetration tube rupture and ejection at an earlier time, resulting in part of debris dropping into the cavity of the drywell. The temperature of residual debris in pressure vessel kept low, and the vessel wall did not suffer creep failure up to 15 hours after reactor scram from which moment the water injection became available. Another aspect was that reactor pressure vessel (RPV) depressurization postponed the lower head creep failure time, and the low debris porosity brought forward the penetration rupture time. Either lower head creep failure or penetration rupture and ejection occurred in the central part of the pressure vessel. In MPS calculation, a slice of debris bed together with lower head, including an instrument guide tube, was chosen as the computational domain. Detailed temperature profiles in debris bed, penetration and vessel wall were obtained. The penetration rupture time calculated by MPS was earlier than the MELCOR result, while the vessel wall creep failure time was later.     

全厂断电引发的严重事故下蒸汽发生器传热管蠕变失效风险研究

全厂断电引发的严重事故若处置不当,可能发展为长期、高压的严重事故进程,此时堆芯冷却系统中的自然循环在导出部分堆芯余热的同时,也增加了蒸汽发生器（SG）传热管、稳压器波动管以及热管段出现蠕变失效的风险。本文基于两环路设计的秦山二期核电厂设计特点,结合蠕变失效风险模型,对全厂断电引发的严重事故后未能执行“严重事故管理导则中向蒸汽发生器注水（SAG-1）”时SG传热管的蠕变失效风险进行了研究,从而为全厂断电引发的严重事故的负面影响提供量化结果,为技术支持中心（TSC）最终决策提供参考依据。分析结果表明,全厂断电引发的严重事故后16 361 s可能出现蠕变失效;自事故后16 610 s,SG传热管出现蠕变失效的可能性均远低于稳压器波动管与热管段,秦山二期核电厂全厂断电引发的严重事故下因SG传热管蠕变失效而导致安全壳旁通的风险很小。     

燃料棒破损热力学模块开发及在严重事故分析程序中的应用

包壳肿胀和破损是严重事故早期阶段的重要现象。包壳形变不仅会造成局部流动堵塞,同时,水蒸气会从破裂处进入包壳气隙,增加包壳被蒸汽氧化的表面积。广泛使用的一体化严重事故分析程序不能分析早期事故过程中燃料棒的热力学行为,判断包壳破裂也只是基于简单的参数模型。本文开发了分析燃料棒热力学行为的FRTMB模块,并集成在严重事故分析程序ISAA中。使用开发的耦合系统ISAA FRTMB分析了CAP1400反应堆直接注射（DVI）管线小破口事故过程中燃料棒的热力学行为,并预计了包壳破裂时间及相应的失效温度。计算结果整体验证了ISAA FRTMB分析瞬态事故过程中燃料棒热力学行为以及判断包壳破裂的适用性和可靠性。     

一体化多用途的非能动小型压水反应堆发生假定事故的初步分析

采用RELAP5/MOD3.2系统程序建立一体化小型反应堆的事故分析模型,包括反应堆冷却剂系统(RCS)、简化的二回路系统和专设安全设施。一体化多用途的非能动小型压水反应堆(SIMPLE)热功率为660 MWt(电功率大于200 MWe)。针对SIMPLE的直接安注管线(DVI)双端断裂事故和DVI2英寸(50.8mm)小破口失水事故(SBLOCA)进行分析。计算结果表明:对于直接安注管线双端断裂事故,破口和自动降压系统(ADS)能有效地使反应堆冷却系统降压,安注箱(ACC)和安全壳内置换料水箱(IRWST)能实现堆芯补水,确保堆芯冷却;对于DVI的SBLOCA,非能动专设安全设施能有效对RCS进行冷却和降压,防止堆芯过热。     

AP1000多根蒸汽发生器传热管破裂分析

利用RELAP5/MOD3程序对AP1000多根蒸汽发生器传热管破裂事故进行了分析。基于最佳估算方法,分析了1~5根蒸汽发生器传热管破裂的工况。分析结果表明:在大气释放阀可用的情况下,主蒸汽安全阀(MSSV)始终保持关闭状态,从而不会旁通安全壳。每个工况的堆芯补水箱水位均未出现下降,不会产生自动卸压信号。即使假设MSSV卡开,堆芯也从未出现裸露,仍保持可冷却状态。     

堆芯晚期注水对一回路压力的影响分析

分析典型的1000 MW级压水堆核电厂在高压严重事故序列下,堆芯晚期注水对压力容器失效时一回路压力的影响.分析结果表明,在开启1列稳压器卸压阀的情况下,稳压器波动管可能会在压力容器失效之前发生蠕变失效使一回路被动卸压,堆芯晚期注水不会造成一回路压力大幅增大,但波动管失效的时间和尺寸存在较大的不确定性.在开启2列或3列卸...     

Quantitative assessment of severe accident management strategies in a nuclear power plant

Nuclear power plants in Korea are preparing improvement countermeasures for severe accidents including mobile gas turbine generators, passive autocatalytic recombiners, containment-filtered venting systems, and external injection using portable pumps. However, these improvement countermeasures have only been determined by expert judgment, and detailed validation of their effects has not been performed. In this paper, the quantitative safety impact of these improvement countermeasures was evaluated for the Westinghouse 3-loop pressurized water reactor. Our evaluation of four improvement countermeasures using the at-power internal event probabilistic safety assessment models revealed that all containment failure modes have positive effects, except for the containment isolation failure and the containment bypass. Therefore, post-Fukushima action plans for coping with a severe accident in Korea have been appropriately evaluated and established.     

反应堆主回路卸压对压力容器外裂变产物释放的影响分析

本工作耦合建立了600 MW压水堆核电厂热工水力、裂变产物行为和放射性后果评价的分析模型,选取SB-LOCA、SGTR、SBO和LOFW等4个高压熔堆事故序列,研究了主回路卸压对压力容器外裂变产物释放的影响,包括主回路卸压对压力容器外裂变产物释放的缓解效应和其他负面影响。分析表明：实施主回路卸压可缓解高压熔堆事故序列下压力容器外的释放,但卸压工况下事故早期安全壳内的气载放射性活度较基准工况下的大。相关分析结论可作为严重事故管理导则制定的技术基础。     

Estimation of temperature-induced reactor coolant system and steam generator tube creep rupture probability under high-pressure severe accident conditions

A severe accident has inherently significant uncertainties due to the complex phenomena and wide range of conditions. Because of its high temperature and pressure, performing experimental validation and practical application are extremely difficult. With these difficulties, there has been few experimental researches performed and there is no plant-specific experimental data. Instead, computer codes have been developed to simulate the accident and have been used conservative assumptions and margins. This study is an effort to reduce the uncertainty in the probabilistic safety assessment and produce a realistic and physical-based failure probability. The methodology was developed and applied to the OPR1000. The creep rupture failure probabilities of reactor coolant system (RCS) components were evaluated under a station blackout severe accident with all powers lost and no recovery of steam generator auxiliary feed-water. The MELCOR 1.8.6 code was used to obtain the plant-specific pressure and temperature history of each part of the RCS and the creep rupture failure times were calculated by the rate-dependent creep rupture model with the plant-specific data.     

Response of gas-cooled fast breeder reactors to depressurization accidents

The gas-cooled fast breeder reactor (GCFR) under design by Gulf General Atomic is cooled with helium pressurized to 85 atm and has the reactor core, the steam generators and their associated steam turbine-driven helium circulators, and auxiliary core cooling loops all contained within a massive prestressed concrete reactor vessel (PCRV).The response of the GCFR to coolant depressurization accidents has been investigated and it has been shown that this class of accidents can be safely handled with considerable safety margin. Rapid depressurization is assumed to be caused by a seal failure in a large concrete plug closing one of the large PCRV cavities and the depressurization rate is controlled by a flow restrictor incorporated within the closure plug. Continued core cooling is provided by the main core cooling loops. The plant transient reponse following a depressurization accident has been calculated with a computer code developed at GGA. The results obtained indicate rather mild increases in peak clad temperature for a depressurization accident with the leak area defined by the flow restrictor.Additional cases investigating larger leak areas to explore safety margins indicate that the peak cladding temperature does not increase rapidly with increasing leak area. Secondary containment conditions in a depressurization accident have also been evaluated.     

传热管破裂位置及根数对SGTR事故进程的影响

以一体化反应堆为研究对象,应用RELAP5/MOD3.4程序对套管式直流蒸汽发生器发生传热管破裂事故时,影响事故进程的一些因素进行了分析,其中包括破口在传热管轴向高度不同断裂位置,以及同时断裂多根传热管等。分析结果表明:不同断裂位置处的SGTR事故,其系统响应大致相同;不同破裂面积的SGTR事故,其破口处临界喷放流量与破口面积有着密切的联系。但总体来看,无论直流蒸汽发生器发生何种形式的SGTR,其一回路冷却剂通过破口处向二回路侧泄漏的积分流量大致相同,而且这个积分流量决定了一体化反应堆的瞬态响应。