Development of a reduced order model for severe accident analysis codes by singular value decomposition aiming probabilistic safety margin analysis

ABSTRACT

Severe accident codes (e.g. MAAP, RELAP, and MELCORE) model various physical phenomena during severe accidents. Many analyses using these codes for safety margin evaluation are impractical due to large computational costs. Surrogate models have an advantage of quickly reproducing multiple results with a low computational cost. In this study, we apply the singular value decomposition to the time-series results of a severe accident code to develop a reduced order modeling (ROM). Using the ROM, the probabilistic safety margin analysis for the station blackout with a total loss of feedwater capabilities at a boiling water reactor is carried out. The dominant parameters to the accident progression are assumed to be the down-time and the recovery-time of the reactor core isolation cooling system, and decay heat. To reduce the number of RELAP5/SCDAPSIM analyses while maintaining the prediction accuracy of ROM, we develop a data sampling method based on adaptive sampling, which selects the new sampling data based on the dissimilarity with the existing training data for ROM. Our ROM can rapidly reproduce the time-series results and can estimate core conditions. By reproducing multiple results by ROM, a time-dependent core damage probability distribution is calculated instead of the direct use of RELAP5/SCDAPSIM.     

Development of linked analysis system for PWR severe accidents utilizing RELAP5 and MAAP4

The purpose of this study is to develop a severe accident (SA) analysis method that is more reliable thorough transferring the physical status of the plant predicted by RELAP5 computer code to MAAP4 computer code. The methodology of the linkage analysis is developed and the criterion of linkage time is suggested to utilize the RELAP5 thermal–hydraulic calculation to the maximum degree possible and thereby guarantee the continuity of calculation for hydrogen generation. The MAAP4 calculations after data transfer show the physically proper results based on RELAP5 data. Comparison with other code results for TMI-2 accident reveals that the result from the RELAP5–MAAP4 linked analysis lay in the span given by a number of results of TMI calculation from other SA code systems. The results of this study are expected to improve the SA analysis methodology by analyzing an SA scenario with more reliable thermal–hydraulic initial conditions.     

SCDAP/RELAP5 application to CANDU6 fuel channel analysis under postulated LLOCA/LOECC conditions

Using SCDAP/RELAP5 (RELAP/SCDAPSIM Mod 3.4), a model with postulated boundary conditions has been developed to simulate the evolution of the fuel channel in a CANada Deuterium Uranium reactor type (CANDU6) during a large loss of coolant accident (LLOCA) with a coincidence of a loss of emergency cooling (LOECC). The accident simulation is initiated from the steady-state flow regime and different steam mass flow rates are imposed in order to run sensitivity calculations of the heatup phase. Results are compared to referenced CHAN II code results for the same accident boundary conditions, concerning the fuel and pressure tube temperatures, power components (generated and exchanged to the moderator) and hydrogen production. The input model is applied both to the intact and to the disassembled bundle with 37 fuel elements. The paper includes a brief discussion of the capabilities of the present SCDAP component models, dedicated to PWR-BWR reactor components, to treat the degradation phenomena in the fuel channel during severe accidents in CANDU reactors, and also of the developments needed to enhance the quality of the code predictions.     

全厂断电引发的严重事故中反应堆压力容器失效机理研究

以国际上典型的第2代3环路压水堆核电站为研究对象,采用严重事故最佳估算程序RELAP/SCDAPSIM,对全厂断电引发的严重事故中反应堆压力容器失效机理进行了计算分析。计算结果表明,RELAP/SCDAPSIM程序中的COUPLE二维有限元模型能够详细地预测压力容器内熔融物的行为特性,所给出的下封头失效时间和失效位置与已有实验结果吻合。     

Simulation of the chernobyl accident

An analysis of the April 26, 1986 accident at the Chernobyl-4 nuclear power plant in the Soviet Union is presented. The peak calculated core power during the accident was 550 000 MW_t. The analysis provides insights that further understanding of the plant behavior during the accident. The plant was modeled with the RELAP5/MOD2 computer code using information available in the open literature. RELAP5/MOD2 is an advanced computer code designed for best-estimate thermal-hydraulic analysis of transients in light water reactors. The Chernobyl-4 model included the reactor kinetics effects of fuel temperature, graphite temperature, core average void fraction, and automatic regulator control rod position. Preliminary calculations indicated the effects of recirculation pump coast down during performance of a test at the plant were not sufficient to initiate a reactor kinetics-driven power excursion. Another mechanism, or “trigger” is required. The accident simulation assumed the trigger was recirculation pump performance degradation caused by the onset of pump cavitation. Fuel disintegration caused by the power excursion probably led to rupture of pressure tubes. To further characterize the response of the Chernobyl-4 plant during severe accidents, simulations of an extended station blackout sequence with failure of all feedwater are also presented. For those simulations, RELAP5/MOD2 and SCDAP/MOD1 (an advanced best-estimate computer code for the prediction of reactor core behavior during a severe accident) were used. The simulations indicated that fuel rod melting was delayed significantly because the graphite acted as a heat sink.     

多物理耦合方法在严重事故仿真软件SimSA开发中的应用

为满足核电厂全范围模拟机对严重事故过程仿真的需求,自主开发了严重事故仿真软件SimSA,能模拟从设计基准事故到严重事故的主要事故过程,并能准确给出相关进程的计算结果。SimSA包含3大主要模块：热工水力模块（Therm）、堆芯行为模块（Core）以及安全壳行为模块（Cont）。其中,Therm与Core两个模块的耦合过程中采用了SCDAP/RELAP5相似的基于过程机理的耦合方法。本文结合SimSA软件的具体情况介绍了这种耦合方法的实现过程,并采用耦合后的程序对大破口叠加安注失效及全厂断电叠加辅助给水丧失两个典型初因事故导致的严重事故序列进行了计算,将计算结果与相同初始条件下MAAP4的计算结果进行对比分析。结果表明,SimSA中采用的这种耦合方式是成功的。     

高压安全注射系统对压水堆全厂断电事故的缓解能力分析

选择一个典型的3环路压水堆作为参考对象,采用最佳估算程序RELAP/SCDAPSIM/MOD3.2建立了一个典型的3环路压水堆严重事故计算模型。分析了全厂断电(SBO)事故引发的堆芯熔化基准事故后,高压安全注射系统对该事故的缓解能力。敏感性分析表明,堆芯出口温度达到920 K时,采用卸压充水缓解措施可以有效地阻止堆芯熔化,维持堆芯长期处于稳定、安全状态。     

基于堆芯模型耦合过渡方法的严重事故模拟机开发研究

采取系统分析程序耦合过渡一体化严重事故（SA）分析程序的方法，对严重事故模拟机的开发进行研究。该方法首先使用系统分析程序计算事故早期响应，当满足耦合条件时，系统程序停止计算，切换至严重事故程序计算模拟事故中晚期。为实现切换时参数平滑过渡，以全范围模拟机常用程序RELAP5和严重事故程序MAAP4为例，主要分析了两程序热工水力模型重叠部分的堆芯区域的物理模型，选择传递了堆芯节点的芯块温度、包壳温度和堆芯功率。基于通用百万千瓦级压水堆小破口失水事故（SBLOCA）模型，使用该方法计算和SA程序单独计算进行对比验证。结果表明，过渡参数的选取是正确的，该系统分析程序耦合过渡SA程序的方法不仅能成功平滑地过渡参数，还保证了后续计算的准确性。      

小型压水堆完全丧失电源引发的严重事故研究

以压水堆严重事故最佳估算程序RELAP/SCDAPSIM/MOD3.4为核心软件,以假想的小型压水堆为研究对象,建立了1个径向3通道、轴向10节块的核反应堆严重事故计算模型,研究了完全丧失电源初因事件引发的严重事故过程,并对事故停堆后蒸汽发生器给水持续300s的缓解措施进行了分析。计算结果表明：蒸汽发生器辅助给水对于延迟事故进程,缓解事故后果具有重要作用。     

小型压水堆严重事故下一回路承压管道蠕变预测分析模型开发

一回路承压管道蠕变是压水堆核电厂严重事故重要现象之一。针对小型压水堆,本文基于SCDAP/RELAP5程序开发了严重事故分析模型,利用实验拟合方法得到了一回路主管道(SA321)、自然循环式蒸汽发生器传热管(00Cr25Ni35Al Ti)两种材料蠕变预测分析模型,改进了SCDAP/RELAP5程序蠕变预测分析功能模块,并通过假想事故序列验证了SA321、00Cr25Ni35Al Ti蠕变预测分析模型的合理性。为后续开展小型压水堆严重事故下一回路承压管道蠕变规律研究提供基础参考。     

压水堆核电站完全丧失给水引发的严重事故研究

采用严重事故最佳估算程序RELAP5/SCDAPSIM/MOD3.2，建立美国Surry-2核电站的详细计算模型，对完全丧失给水（TLFW）引发的堆芯熔化事故进行研究分析。为准确预测压力容器内堆芯熔化的进程，为二级概率安全评价提供可信的初始条件，计算中考虑了一回路压力边界的蠕变破裂失效，并评价了人为干预对堆芯熔化进程及事故后果的影响。计算结果表明，由完全丧失给水引发的压水堆核电站严重事故不会出现人们担心的高压熔堆；反应堆压力容器下封头的失效位置不是在其底部，而是在其侧面；通过打开稳压器释放阀对一回路实施主动卸压能够大大推迟事故的进程。     

Analysis of pressurizer level control system using MAAP4 code

The code initialization effort has been troubling code users for decades for system transient and severe accident analyses using codes such as RETRAN, MAAP4, MAAP5 and MELCOR. The purpose of this work is to demonstrate an approach that could be considered a generic method to address the code initialization problem. This was demonstrated by developing a pressurizer level control model and temperature dependent level control logic in MAAP4 without re-compiling with the source code. The method would enhance the simulation capability and accuracy of a severe accident analysis by transient and severe accident analyses codes. The demonstration case used MAAP4 to show that the adopted proportional-integral controller with the temperature dependent level control logic would reduce its code steady state errors to zero. The subsequent transient response would become more realistic. The proposed method provides a convenient and exemplified approach for code initialization which is applicable to the next generation of codes that couple with the balance of plant models. These codes include the MAAP5 code and others future codes that could simulate the whole plant by a single and elaborate plant model with exhausting component and phenomenological models.     

Adapting and applying SCDAP/RELAP5 to CANDU in-vessel retention studies

In CANDU reactors, the cool moderator surrounding the calandria tubes provides a potential heat sink following an accident initiator if the emergency coolant injection fails. However, in scenarios when a subsequent loss of all heat sinks occurs, the fuel channels fail and ultimately, the entire reactor core collapses and relocates into the bottom of calandria vessel (CV), which is externally cooled by shield-tank water. Previous studies using MAAP4-CANDU and ISAAC computer codes were found to investigate the long-term coolability of the CV in the late phase of core degradation in course of a severe accident. SCDAP/RELAP5 was applied in a previous work of the authors to the study of the in-vessel retention issue using the COUPLE models with user-defined slumping inside the 2D COUPLE mesh. This option allows for thermal and mechanical analyses of the reactor lower head avoiding the necessity to calculate the preceding course of core degradation during the accident. The former analyses used an equivalent spherically shaped CV while, for the present paper, calculations are performed with COUPLE routines modified to properly use the option for a horizontal pipe in plane geometry. The paper describes the modifications and the application of the resulted SCDAP/RELAPSIM/MOD3.4 code version to the study of the coolability of a CV starting with a dry debris bed. The vessel rupture time is compared to the ISAAC calculated value for a LOCA with loss of all heat sinks and no recovery actions. Parametric studies are performed in order to quantify the effect of several identified sources of uncertainty: boundary conditions of the vessel above debris, gap heat transfer coefficient and metallic fraction of zirconium inside the debris.     

Insertion of lead lithium eutectic mixture in RELAP/SCDAPSIM Mod 4.0 for Fusion Reactor Systems

RELAP/SCDAPSIM Mod 4.0 code was developed by Innovative System Software (ISS) for the analysis of nuclear power plants (NPPs) cooled by light water and heavy water. Later on the code was expanded to analyze the NPPs cooled by liquid metal, in this sequence: lead bismuth eutectic mixture, liquid sodium and lead lithium eutectic mixture (LLE) are inserted in the code. This paper focuses on the insertion of liquid LLE as a coolant for NPPs in the RELAP/SCDAPSIM Mod 4.0 code. Evaluation of the code was made for a simple pipe problem connected with heat structures having liquid LLE as a coolant in it. The code is predicting well all the thermodynamic and transport properties of LLE.     

Integral analysis of large LOCA beyond design basis accident scenario in RBMK-1500

The integral analysis of severe accident scenario for RBMK-1500 was performed using combined approach with RELAP5, RELAP/SCDAPSIM, ASTEC and COCOSYS codes. The performed analysis covered response of the reactor core, the reactor cooling system and the confinement. There were performed several analyses: the first analysis assumed that operators take no action or their actions are not successful to provide the coolant injection to the reactor core; the other analyses were performed to investigate the accident management measures to restore the core cooling at different temperatures of the reactor core. The results of performed analyses showed that the operators have ∼5 h before the ruptures of fuel claddings occur and ∼8 h before the onset of exothermic steam-zirconium reaction. The coolant injection to the reactor core should be restored as soon as possible in order to prevent high hydrogen concentrations in the confinement and significant release of the fission products to the environment.     

基于RELAP5与MELCOR联合分析方法的压水堆严重事故研究

针对严重事故的模拟研究,本文提出结合热工水力系统程序和严重事故一体化程序的分析方法,以典型三环路传统压水堆为对象,分别采用RELAP5和MELCOR程序建立模型,分析在全厂断电叠加汽动辅助给水泵失效事故下系统的瞬态响应。为了尽可能地利用RELAP5计算早期热工水力响应,同时保证严重事故计算结果的准确性,以MELCOR锆合金氧化模型开始工作温度的下限,即包壳温度达到1 100 K作为程序衔接准则并利用RELAP5的大编辑功能,提取所需计算结果导入MELCOR输入卡作为初始参数继续模拟。计算结果表明,数据连接过程整体保持了连续性,两种方法计算得出的主冷却剂系统压力、堆芯和稳压器水位、燃料包壳温度等参数的数值以及堆芯传热恶化和压力容器失效等现象的时序存在不同程度的差异,例如堆芯熔毁时间延后了约538 s。由于采用了RELAP5计算严重事故前的系统暂态响应,联合分析方法的计算结果比单独使用MELCOR分析的结果更加准确,该方法可以提高传统严重事故分析的可靠性。     

基于RELAP5与MELCOR联合分析方法的压水堆严重事故研究

针对严重事故的模拟研究,本文提出结合热工水力系统程序和严重事故一体化程序的分析方法,以典型三环路传统压水堆为对象,分别采用RELAP5和MELCOR程序建立模型,分析在全厂断电叠加汽动辅助给水泵失效事故下系统的瞬态响应。为了尽可能地利用RELAP5计算早期热工水力响应,同时保证严重事故计算结果的准确性,以MELCOR锆合金氧化模型开始工作温度的下限,即包壳温度达到1 100 K作为程序衔接准则并利用RELAP5的大编辑功能,提取所需计算结果导入MELCOR输入卡作为初始参数继续模拟。计算结果表明,数据连接过程整体保持了连续性,两种方法计算得出的主冷却剂系统压力、堆芯和稳压器水位、燃料包壳温度等参数的数值以及堆芯传热恶化和压力容器失效等现象的时序存在不同程度的差异,例如堆芯熔毁时间延后了约538 s。由于采用了RELAP5计算严重事故前的系统暂态响应,联合分析方法的计算结果比单独使用MELCOR分析的结果更加准确,该方法可以提高传统严重事故分析的可靠性。     

A coupled RELAP5-3D/CFD methodology with a proof-of-principle calculation

The RELAP5-3D computer code was modified to make the explicit coupling capability in the code fully functional. As a test of the modified code, a coupled RELAP5/RELAP5 analysis of the Edwards–O'Brien blowdown problem was performed which showed no significant deviations from the standard RELAP5-3D predictions. In addition, a multiphase Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) code was modified to permit explicit coupling to RELAP5-3D. Several calculations were performed with this code. The first analysis used the experimental pressure history from a point just upstream of the break as a boundary condition. This analysis showed that a multiphase CFD code could calculate the thermodynamic and hydrodynamic conditions during a rapid blowdown transient. Finally, a coupled RELAP5/CFD analysis was performed. The results are presented in this paper.     

PSB-VVER simulation of Kozloduy NPP “loss of feed water transient”

This paper provides a comparison between the PSB test facility experimental results obtained during the simulation of loss of feed water transient (LOFW) and the calculation results received by INRNE computer model of the same test facility. Integral thermal-hydraulic PSB-VVER test facility located at Electrogorsk Research and Engineering Center on NPPs Safety (EREC) was put in operation in 1998. The structure of the test facility allows experimental studies under steady state, transient and accident conditions.RELAP5/MOD3.2 computer code has been used to simulate the loss of feed water transient in a PSB-VVER model. This model was developed at the Institute for Nuclear Research and Nuclear Energy for simulation of loss of feed water transient.The objective of the experiment “loss of feed water”, which has been performed at PSB-VVER test facility is simulation of Kozloduy NPP LOFW transient. One of the main requirements to the experiment scenario has been to reproduce all main events and phenomena that occurred in Kozloduy NPP during the LOFW transient. Analyzing the PSB-VVER test with a RELAP5/MOD3.2 computer code as a standard problem allows investigating the phenomena included in the VVER code validation matrix as “integral system effects” and ”natural circulation“. For assessment of the RELAP5 capability to predict the “Integral system effect” phenomenon the following RELAP5 quantities are compared with external trends: the primary pressure and the hot and cold leg temperatures. In order to assess the RELAP5 capability to predict the “Natural circulation” phenomenon the hot and cold leg temperatures behavior have been investigated.This report was possible through the participation of leading specialists from Kozloduy NPP and with the support of Argonne National Laboratory (ANL), under the International Nuclear Safety Program (INSP) of the United States Department of Energy.