Specifics of RBMK core cooling in beyond design basis accidents

The most dangerous beyond design basis accidents for RBMK reactors, leading to the worst consequences, are related to the loss of long-term heat removal from the core. Due to a specific design of RBMK, there are a few possibilities for heat removal from reactor core by non-regular means: removal of heat from graphite stack by reactor gas circuit, removal of heat from reactor core using control rods cooling circuit, depressurisation of reactor cooling system, supply of water into cooling system from low pressure water sources, etc. This paper presents the analysis of such heat removal by employing RELAP5, RELAP5-3D and RELAP/SCDAPSIM codes. The analysis was performed for Ignalina nuclear power plant with RBMK-1500 reactor. The analysis of result shows that the restoration of water supply into control rod channels enables to remove 10-30 MW of the generated heat from the reactor core. This amount of removed heat is comparable with reactor decay heat in long-term period and allows to slowdown the core heat-up process. However, the injection of water to reactor cooling system is considered as main strategy, which should be considered in RBMK-1500 accident management procedure.     

Analysis of BDBA in RBMK-1500 reactor with long-term loss of heat removal from the core

The Ignalina nuclear power plant (NPP) is a twin-unit with two RBMK-1500, graphite moderated, boiling water, multichannel reactors. The accident management guidelines for beyond design basis accidents (BDBAs) are in a stage of preparation at Ignalina NPP. The most challenging event from BDBAs is the unavailability of water sources for heat removal from fuel channels (FCs). Due to specific design of RBMK, there are a few possibilities for heat removal from reactor core by non-regular means: depressurisation of reactor cooling system (RCS) (if pressure in cooling circuit is high) and supply of water into cooling system from low pressure water sources, removal of heat from graphite stack by reactor gas circuit, removal of heat from reactor core using cooling circuit of control and protection system channels, etc. The possibility to remove the heat using cooling circuit of control and protection system channels looks very attractive, because the channels with control rods are cooled with water supplied by the system totally independent from the reactor cooling system. The heat from fuel channels, where heat is generated, through graphite columns is transferred in radial direction to cooled channels with control rods. Therefore, the heat removal from RBMK-1500 reactor core using control rods cooling circuit can be used as non-regular mean for reactor cool-down in case of BDBAs with loss of long-term heat removal from the core.     

Approach to accident management in RBMK-1500

In order to ensure the safe operation of the nuclear power plants accident management programs are being developed around the world. These accident management programs cover the whole spectrum of accidents, including severe accidents. A lot of work is done to investigate the severe accident phenomena and implement severe accident management in NPPs with vessel-type reactors, while less attention is paid to channel-type reactors CANDU and RBMK.Ignalina NPP with RBMK-1500 reactor has implemented symptom based emergency operation procedures, which cover management of accidents until the core damage and do not extend to core damage region. In order to ensure coverage of the whole spectrum of accidents and meet the requirements of IAEA the severe accident management guidelines have to be developed.This paper presents the basic principles and approach to management of beyond design basis accidents at Ignalina NPP. In general, this approach could be applied to NPPs with RBMK-1000 reactors that are available in Russia, but the design differences should be taken into account.     

Thermal-hydraulic analysis of accidents leading to local coolant flow decrease in the main circulation circuit of RBMK-1500

There are a few transient and loss-of-coolant accident conditions in RBMK-1500 reactors that lead to a local flow decrease in fuel channels. Because the coolant flow decreases in fuel channels (FC) leads to overheating of fuel claddings and pressure tube walls, mitigation measures are necessary. The accident analysis enabled the suggestion of the new early reactor scram actuation and emergency core cooling system (ECCS) initiation signal, which ensures the safe shutdown of the reactor and compensates the stagnation flow. Analysis of such conditions is presented in this paper. Thermal-hydraulic analysis was conducted using the state-of-the-art RELAP5 code. Results of the analysis demonstrated that, after implementation of the developed management strategy for destruction of local flow stagnation, the Ignalina nuclear power plant (NPP) would be adequately protected following accidents, leading to local coolant flow decrease in the primary circuit.     

Formation, characterisation and cooling of debris: Scenario discussion with emphasis on TMI-2

Regarding safety improvements for existing nuclear power plants, the TMI-2 accident is interesting because of the present commercial dominance of light water reactors (LWR). This accident demonstrated that the nuclear safety philosophy evolved over the years has to cover accident sequences involving massive core melt progression in order to develop reliable mitigation strategies for both, existing and advanced reactors. Although the TMI-2 core was reflooded, the results also appear applicable to the general melt progression phenomenology of most unrecovered (unreflooded) blocked core accident scenarios. Nevertheless, a large range in the initial conditions of core melt progression provides significant uncertainties in assessing the integrity of the lower head, the containment in severe reactor accidents, and the consequences of recovery actions in accident management, as well as core reflooding in particular. The probability of success of reflooding as an accident management strategy – in-vessel reflooding to terminate the accident and ex-vessel flooding to prevent reactor vessel melt-through – has to be assessed and discussed in detail.     

Uncertainty and sensitivity analysis of MCPs’ trip events at Ignalina NPP

Eight main circulation pumps (MCPs) are employed for the cooling water forced circulation through the RBMK-1500 reactor at the Ignalina nuclear power plant (NPP). There have been a few events when one or more MCPs were inadvertently tripped.This paper presents investigation of a one MCP trip event and all MCPs’ trip events at Ignalina NPP. Thermal-hydraulic analysis was conducted using the best estimate system code RELAP5/MOD3.3. Uncertainty and sensitivity analysis of flow energy loss in different parts of the main circulation circuit (MCC), initial conditions and code-selected models was performed. Such analysis allows to estimate the influence of separate parameters on the calculation results and find those modelling parameters that have the largest impact on the investigated events. Uncertainty analysis indicates that natural circulation provides adequate cooling in the case of all MCPs tripped, and that the reactor is reliably cooled by forced circulation in the case of a single tripped MCP. On the basis of this analysis, recommendations for the further improvement of model are developed.     

Reactor cavity and ALS thermal-hydraulic evaluation in the case of fuel channels ruptures at Ignalina NPP

This paper presents the work analysis of the thermal-hydraulic parameters behavior in the RBMK-1500 reactor cavity (RC) and other connected volumes in the case of fuel channels ruptures. The analysis is performed with CONTAIN code using the models of accident localization system (ALS) and reactor cavity venting system (RCVS). The RCVS capacity is assessed and expressed as a number of ruptured fuel channels at which the integrity of RC is maintained. The uncertainty analysis of pressure behavior in RC during multiple fuel channel rupture was performed. The initial and boundary conditions and the code models were selected and their influence on the results is estimated.Calculation of coolant mass and energy release to the reactor cavity in case of fuel channels rupture performed using the main circulation circuit model of Ignalina NPP, which was developed by employing state-of-the-art code RELAP5/MOD3.2 [Fletcher et al., RELAP5/MOD3 code manual user’s guidelines, Idaho National Engineering Lab., NUREG/CR-5535 (1992)]. These results were applied further as the initial data for the analysis of the thermal-hydraulic parameters behavior in the affected compartments employing CONTAIN code.     

Development of Ignalina NPP RBMK-1500 reactor RELAP5-3D model

This paper deals with the development of an integrated thermal-hydraulics–neutronics model for RBMK-1500 reactors for the analysis of specific plant transients in which the neutronic response of the core is important. A successful best estimate coupled RELAP5-3D model of Ignalina nuclear power plant (NPP) has been developed. The validation of the thermal-hydraulic model has been performed using operational transients from Ignalina NPP. The results of the calculations obtained with the RELAP5-3D model compare reasonably with the real plant data. The RELAP5-3D nodal kinetics model provides reasonable agreement with Ignalina NPP reactor power and coolant density profiles. The eigenvalue is close to unity, indicating that reasonable values are calculated for the neutron fluxes.     

Safety analysis of LBLOCA in BDBA scenarios for the Bushehr's VVER-1000 nuclear power plant

This paper presents the results of thermal-hydraulic calculations of a large break loss of coolant accident (LBLOCA) analysis for a VVER-1000/V446 unit at Bushehr nuclear power plant (BNPP). LBLOCA is analysis in two different beyond design basis accident (BDBA) scenarios using the RELAP5/MOD3.2 best estimate code. The scenarios are LBLOCA with station blackout (SBO) and LBLOCA with pump re-circulation blockage which have been evaluated in the final safety analysis report (FSAR) of BNPP. A model of VVER-1000 reactor based on Unit 1 of BNPP has been developed for the RELAP5/MOD3.2 thermal-hydraulics code consists of 4-loop primary and secondary systems with all their relevant sub-systems important to safety analysis. The analysis is performed without regard for operator's actions on accident management. The safety analysis is carried out and the results are checked against the acceptance criteria which are the possibility of using water inventory in the emergency core cooling system (ECCS) accumulators and the KWU tanks for core cooling and the available time to operators before the maximum design limit of fuel rod cladding damage is reached. These kinds of analyses are performed to provide the response of monitored plant parameters to identify symptoms available to the operators, timing of the loss of critical safety functions and timing of operator actions to avoid the loss of critical safety functions of core damage. The results of performed analyses show that the operators have 2.9 and 3.1 h for LBLOCA with SBO and LBLOCA with pump re-circulation blockage scenarios, respectively, before the fuel rod cladding rupture. The results are also compared with the BNPP FSAR data.     

基于PSA的压水堆LBLOCA不确定性分析

为了结合确定论与概率论分析开展更加真实的核反应堆事故工况安全分析,提出了一种结合概率安全分析（PSA）和最佳估算加不确定性（BEPU）分析的方法,并以典型三环路压水堆冷管段双端断裂大破口失水事故（LBLOCA）的极限事故为对象,首先基于PSA开展了应急堆芯冷却系统的事故失效分析,而后结合BEPU分析评估了事件树中各事故序列的包壳峰值温度（PCT）分布及条件堆芯损坏概率（CCDP）,最终确定了压水堆在该事故工况中的堆芯损坏频率（CDF）。分析结果表明,压水堆在冷管段双端断裂工况中应急堆芯冷却系统能够保证反应堆的安全,且一列低压安注系统足以排出堆芯余热及保证反应堆安全。      

Study on the passive safe technology for the prevention of air ingress during the primary-pipe rupture accident of HTGR

A primary-pipe rupture accident is one of the design-basis accidents of a high-temperature gas-cooled reactor (HTGR). When the primary-pipe rupture accident occurs, air is expected to enter the reactor core from the breach and oxidize in-core graphite structures. This study is to investigate the air ingress phenomena and to develop the passive safe technology for the prevention of air ingress and of graphite corrosion. This paper describes the method for the prevention of air ingress into the reactor during the primary-pipe rupture accident. It is found that a safe cooling rate of the reactor core exists for the prevention of air ingress. The experimental results show that the natural circulation flow of air during the accident can be controlled by the method of helium gas injection into the reactor pressure vessel.     

Stepwise integral scaling method for severe accident analysis and its application to corium dispersion in direct containment heating

Accident sequences which lead to severe core damage and to possible radioactive fission products into the environment have a very low probability. However, the interest in this area increased significantly due to the occurrence of the small break loss-of-coolant accident at TM1–2 which led to partial core damage, and of the Chernobyl accident in the former USSR which led to extensive core disassembly and significant release of fission products over several countries. In particular, the latter accident raised the international concern over the potential consequences of severe accidents in nuclear reactor systems. One of the significant shortcomings in the analyses of severe accidents is the lack of well-established and reliable scaling criteria for various multiphase flow phenomena. However, the scaling criteria are essential to the severe accident, because the full scale tests are basically impossible to perform. They are required for (1) designing scaled down or simulation experiments, (2) evaluating data and extrapolating the data to prototypic conditions, and (3) developing correctly scaled physical models and correlations. In view of this, a new scaling method is developed for the analysis of severe accidents. Its approach is quite different from the conventional methods. In order to demonstrate its applicability, this new stepwise integral scaling method has been applied to the analysis of the corium dispersion problem in the direct containment heating.     

Structural integrity assessment of the reactor pressure vessel under the external reactor vessel cooling condition

Since the suggestion of external reactor vessel cooling (ERVC), the effects of melting and cooling on the response of structural integrity of the reactor pressure vessel (RPV) under core melting accident conditions have been investigated. To investigate the initial behavior of RPV lower head and the effects of analysis conditions on the structural integrity of RPV, the transient analysis is utilized considering the transient state. To obtain an analogy with real phenomena, the material properties were determined by combining and modifying the existing results considering phase transformation and temperature dependency. The temperature and stress analyses are performed for core melting accident by using ABAQUS. Finally, the potential for vessel damage is discussed using the Larson-Miller curve and damage rule. In addition, the results by transient analysis are compared with those by steady state analysis and the effects of analysis conditions on structural integrity are reviewed.     

Analysis of severe core damage accident progression for the heavy water reactor

In this study,the severe accident progression analysis of generic Canadian deuterium uranium reactor 6 was preliminarily provided using an integrated severe accident analysis code.The selected accident sequences were multiple steam generator tube rupture and large break loss-of-coolant accidents because these led to severe core damage with an assumed unavailability for several critical safety systems.The progressions of severe accident included a set of failed safety systems normally operated at full power,and initiative events led to primary heat transport system inventory blow-down or boil off.The core heat-up and melting,steam generator response,fuel channel and calandria vessel failure were analyzed.The results showed that the progression of a severe core damage accident induced by steam generator tube rupture or large break loss-of-coolant accidents in a CANDU reactor was slow due to heat sinks in the calandria vessel and vault.     

基于RELAP5程序的AP1000典型事故瞬态特性研究

基于最佳估算程序RELAP5/MOD3.3,对AP1000系统进行了详细的建模分析,选取冷却剂泵卡轴事故、蒸汽发生器(SG)传热管破裂事故和直接注射管线双端断裂事故作为典型事故,获得了典型事故工况下关键参数的瞬态特性和非能动系统响应特性。结果表明:对于冷却剂泵卡轴事故,一回路最大压力为16.82 MPa,燃料包壳表面温度最大值为1 299K,满足验收准则的要求;对于SG传热管破裂事故,破损SG的水体积为231.54m3,小于AP1000蒸汽发生器255.563m3的总容积;对于直接注射管线双端断裂事故,AP1000的非能动堆芯冷却系统能对一回路进行冷却和降压,并防止堆芯裸露和燃料包壳过热。     

Assessment of fuel-rod meltdown in a severe accident at Bushehr nuclear power plant(BNPP)

After the Fukushima disaster, interest in the evaluation of severe accidents in nuclear power plants and off-site consequences has significantly increased. Because experimental studies are difficult to conduct, computational methods play a substantial role in accident analysis. In this study, a severe accident in the Bushehr pressurized water reactor power plant caused by a station blackout with a total loss of alternating current power supply has been evaluated. This analysis presents the in-core damage of fuel rods and the release of fission products as well as the thermal hydraulic response of the station components during the loss of active emergency cooling systems. In this manner, a perfect model of the Bushehr nuclear power plant using the MELCOR code is prepared. The accident progression is simulated, and the thermal responses of the fuels and hydraulic components are presented. It is shown that, without operator intervention, steam generators will become dry in approximately 3000 s, and the heat sink of the reactor will be lost. The simulation results show that at approximately 8600 s, the upper parts of the core start melting. This model calculates the shortest available time for accident prevention and proves that the time available is sufficient for operator manual action to prevent a nuclear disaster.     

Fracture mechanical evaluation of an in-vessel melt retention scenario

This paper presents methods to compute J-integral values for cracks in two- and three-dimensional thermo-mechanical loaded structures using the finite element code ANSYS. The developed methods are used to evaluate the behavior of a crack on the outside of an emergency cooled reactor pressure vessel (RPV) during a severe core melt down accident. It will be shown, that water cooling of the outer surface of a RPV during a core melt down accident can prevent vessel failure due to creep and ductile rupture. Further on, we present J-integral values for an assumed crack at the outside of the lower plenum of the RPV, at its most stressed location for an emergency cooling (thermal shock) scenario.     

压水堆一回路卸压措施影响因素研究

研究压水堆一回路管道小小破口失水事故叠加辅助给水失效导致的高压堆芯熔化严重事故进程，对比验证不同严重事故缓解措施入口温度条件下一回路卸压缓解途径的充分性和有效性，并确认较佳的一回路冷却系统（RCS）降压途径。结果显示，以低于650℃的温度作为降压缓解措施入口条件，可及时恢复可能的堆芯冷却能力。一、二回路卸压效果分析表明，考虑了长期衰变热移出注水流量和堆芯过冷度要求，较佳的卸压配置为初期打开一列稳压器卸压阀，同时迅速恢复辅助给水并开启蒸汽发生器卸压阀。      

Analysis of stress applied to a ruptured cladding tube under horizontal vibration

ABSTRACT

After the termination of a loss-of-coolant accident (LOCA), the reactor continues to be cooled for a long term until fuel assemblies are withdrawn from the reactor core. The fuel cladding tube degrades in strength due to high-temperature oxidation during a LOCA event. It is important to confirm that fuel rods exposed to LOCA conditions can withstand earthquakes during the long-term cooling in terms of preserving the coolable geometry of the reactor core. Finite element method analyses were performed to estimate the deformation of fuel rods in a fuel assembly under vibrations simulating an earthquake as well as the stress applied to the fuel cladding tube with a rupture opening. The localized stress at the rupture opening in the analyses was compared with the strength assessed through bending tests of the cladding tube samples that were ruptured and oxidized to less than 15% equivalent cladding reacted (ECR) in advance. As the result, the fuel rods are expected to be prevented from fracture due to bending at earthquakes during the post-LOCA cooling unless the oxidation of cladding tubes exceeds the limit defined in the current Japanese LOCA criteria, 15% ECR and a deflection of the fuel rodexceeds approximately 40 mm.