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Large-Break Loss-Of-Coolant Accident PDF
Large-Break Loss-Of-Coolant Accident PDF
17%187,1994
~ ) Pergamon Copyright© 1994ElsevierScienceLtd
Printedin GreatBritain.All rightsreserved
0306-4549/94$6.00+ 0.00
Abstract--Large-break loss-of-coolant accident (LOCA) was analyzed in the course of the design study
concerning direct-cycle supercritical-pressure light water reactor (SCLWR). The advantages of SCLWR
are a higher thermal efficiency and simpler reactor system than the current light water reactors (LWRs).
A computer code was prepared for the analysis of the blowdown phase from the supercritical pressure.
The calculation was connected to the REFLA-TRAC code when the system pressure decreased to around
atmospheric pressure. The analyzed accidents are 100, 75, 50 and 25% cold-leg and 100% hot-leg breaks.
First, blowdown and heatup phases without an emergency core cooling system (ECCS) were evaluated. A
low-pressure coolant injection system (LPCI) was designed to fill the core with water before the cladding
(stainless-steel) temperature reached a limit of 1260°C. The LPCI consists of four units, each of which has
the capacity 805 kg/s. An automatic depressurization system (ADS) was designed to release the steam
generated in the core in the case of cold-leg breaks and to permit operation of LPCI in the case of LOCAs
of less than 100% break. For all cases analyzed, the peak cladding temperatures were lower than the limit
when the designed ECCS is implemented.
-I Steam 1
w~'~+l = w~'~--Aw'~,~t-dt
(2)
node #2 1 w~g+ ' = W~gz+ Aw~g,~g2" dt, (3)
I I [Core
where w denotes the total mass in the node. Subscripts
1, gl and g2 represent the liquid, steam 1 and steam 2
nodes, respectively. The superscripts represent the
Liquid node
L Critical flow time steps. The quantity Awe,, denotes the critical
F mass flowrate at the break and Awgj ~g2 represents the
mass transfer from steam node 1 to 2. The steam
Fig. 2. Reactor model for blowdown analysis of the cold-leg pressure was calculated from the enthalpy, the total
break.
mass and volume of the node. The mass transfer
Awgl ~g2 was iteratively evaluated to balance the pres-
lower plenum and the lower core were simulated by sures of the two steam nodes.
one liquid node occupied by uniform "water". The After the liquid mass was entirely lost at the break,
upper plenum and the upper core were represented by steam in node 2 flowed out. At this phase the mass
steam nodes 1 and 2, respectively. Initially the fluid conservation equations are :
properties in both steam nodes were the same. Mass
and enthalpy balances were calculated in each node w~g~-' = w~gt--Aw~g,.~'dt , (4)
by considering the interaction with other nodes. Node w~g+' = w~2+(Aw~g,.g2--Aw'~,t)'dt. (5)
volumes were variables.
The calculation procedure is shown in Fig. 3. First, The enthalpy conservation equations are :
~ s~ .~
not exists
h~+' = h~, (6) step were equal to those asterisked. If not, the flashing
h kgl
+ I k mass was incorporated into the calculation as :
= hgl, (7)
W~I"1-1 = w~l --~), (11)
h~+1 = h~2 + [O+ (h~ -h~2)Awgk, ~g2] "dt/w~g + 1, (8)
w~+ ' = w*+ w * ' z , (12)
where h denotes the enthalpy per unit mass. The quan-
tity Q represents the heat transfer from the core to where Z denotes the fraction of the flashed steam and
steam node 2. This is calculated using Dittus-Boelter's is evaluated from the mixture of saturated liquid and
heat transfer coefficient. The flow velocity used in the steam enthalpies :
correlation is evaluated from Awg I -g2. The density of
hg~at(P*)'z+h,sat(P*)'(1-Z) = hk, (13)
liquid is kept constant, so that the volume of the liquid
nodes is uniquely determined from the total mass. The where the subscripts lsat and gsat denote saturated
volume of steam node 2 increases with a decreasing liquid and steam, respectively. The saturated enthal-
volume of liquid node, while the volume of the steam pies are the functions of pressure p*, which is evaluated
node 1 is constant. The density of steam was evaluated explicitly from the steam node properties. The
from the total mass and volume of the node. The other enthalpy per unit mass is kept constant as equations
properties of fluid were obtained from the density and (6) and (7) when the flashing does not occur. With the
enthalpy using a steam table. flashing, the liquid and steam enthalpies are calculated
The node diagram used for the hot-leg break is from :
depicted in Fig. 4. The whole pressure vessel is rep-
h~ +I = h~,t(p*)+O'dt/w~j +~, (14)
resented by liquid and steam nodes. The calculation
procedure is shown in Fig. 5. Steam flows out at the hi+,.~+, = hgk. Wg-[-hgsa
, t • w I*. ~. (15)
break. When the pressure decreased to the saturated
The steam volume increases with a decreasing liquid
pressure of the liquid, flashing occurred. The heat
volume due to the flashing.
transfer from the core to the coolant was calculated
using the steam velocitiy derived from this flashing. 2.2. Heatup and reflooding model
However the heat was transferred only to the liquid.
REFLA-TRAC is a best-estimate code for pre-
This assumption implies that the liquid level increased
dicting LWR plant transients. The results of the blow-
up to the upper part of the core due to the flashing,
down calculation are converted to the input data of
and the heat was mainly consumed in the boiling of
the REFLA-TRAC code and successive heatup and
two-phase mixture.
reflooding phases are analyzed. Though the REFLA-
The mass conservation equations are represented
TRAC code is available at a pressure lower than 170
by :
bar, the calculation is proceeded to this code when the
w* = w~, (9) system pressure is low enough and the blowdown is
almost finished.
W~ : W~g--ml~crit °dt. (10) The component diagram is depicted in Fig. 6. Com-
When the pressure was higher than the saturated one ponent 7 represents the core. The core component is
of the liquid, the masses corresponding to k + 1 time divided into 14 nodes, eight of which are connected
to heat conductors representing the fuel rods. Only
the hottest channel is modeled and cosine power dis-
tribution is assumed in the axial direction. Component
5 represents the lower plenum. It is connected to pipe
I L component 8 representing the downcomer. This com-
Steam node [---- • Critical flow
1 ponent is divided into I0 nodes. Valve component 2
was attached to the downcomer. The upper plenum
represented by component 6 was connected to valve
component 4. The ECCS was connected directly to
the lower plenum using one valve and one fill com-
i
Fig. 4. Reactor model for blowdown analysis of the hot-leg
break.
ponent in the present model.
In the case of cold-leg break, valve 9 was opened
and valves 2 and 4 were closed. Valve 2 was opened
when LPCI was actuated, and valve 4 was opened
when ADS was actuated. On the other hand, valve 4
was opened and the others are closed when simulating
Large-break loss-of-coolant accident analysis 181
~...__START
*
Cladding temperature [ I
Fig. 5. Calculation flowchart for blowdown analysis of the hot-leg break.
6.Plenum
7.Core
5.Plenum
the hot-leg break. LPCI is simulated in the same way calculation was connected to the R E F L A - T R A C code
as the cold-leg break, while the effect of ADS was at 20 s. Figure 7a shows the pressure transient at the
neglected. core. A point of inflection appears at 6 s when whole
"water" was lost at the break and "steam" release
3. B L O W D O W N AND HEATUP ANALYSES starts. The depressurization speed was relatively small
during the "water" release. This inflection point
3.1. 100% cold-leg break would not be so clear if the continuous distribution
The initial blowdown phase was analyzed with the of coolant properties in the core is considered. The
assumptions explained in the previous sections. The pressure decreased around atmospheric pressure at
182 S. KOSHIZUKA et al.
200 200
"C P,.
¢g ¢u
.a 150 150
,=
-,1
100 100
2 P
Q. Q.
50 50
0 0
0 2O 40 60 80 100 120 0 50 100 150 200
Time [s] Time [s]
(b) 2000
(b) lOOO
/I
,/ /
core inlet /
O
o 1500 d f /
1 I core middle /
,= ~" 8OO
.o core outlet /
t" /
/
/
E
¢D
1000 pf
,,./I i ff
¢,~
600 I /
i
/
E /
._=
m 400
// .,...I
"O // j'-
"O c
_m 500 I ~5
t,3 core inlet _m
core middle 0 200
core outlet
~ ,,
0 I =
0 20 40 60 80 100 120
T i m e [s] 0 50 100 150 200
Fig. 7. 1 0 0 % cold-leg break without ECCS: (a) core pres- Time [s]
sure; and (b) cladding surface temperature. Fig. 8. 1 0 0 % hot-leg break without ECCS : ( a ) core pressure ;
and (b) cladding surface temperature.
Time [s]
4. ECCS DESIGN
multiple valves for enhancing safety and reliability, LPCI and ADS, respectively, are opened at 30 s. Two
but such detailed design is left for future study• of four LPCI systems are assumed to be available.
Condensation is neglected in the R E F L A - T R A C cal-
culation to avoid numerical instability.
5. R E F L O O D I N G A N A L Y S E S The pressure, cladding surface temperature, mass
flowrate and void fraction transients are depicted in
5.1. 100% cold-leg break Fig. 10. When ECCS is activated, the void fraction of
The ECCS designed is added to the model. In Fig. the lower plenum decreases immediately. The lower
6, the valve components 2 and 4, which represent plenum is filled with the ECC water within 10 s and
• _1 core I
3000 - -
200
line
150
100
~'
,¢
2000
1000
IIAIL
'_/
o
-v /
a.
~ o
50 ~,~.
-1000 1
0
0 50 100 150 200
-2000
T i m e [s]
0 50 100 150 200
Time [s]
1000
- - core inlet
core middle
ll,, ! lower plenum
core
0.8 Ill rl l"
o
core outlet I I i~ t. upper plenum
I I ',
I ! l I,I I !J
•-, 800 / \
¢::
0
0.6 I
ta. \
E 600 r~_ \
•c= X '~" 0.4 I ,I I
400 X \- O ! i l i,
> I I I I
"i I I I I
2
iI I I t
0.2 I. , I l
200 \
0 0.0 '-'~
0 50 100 150 200 0 50 100 150 200
T i m e [s] T i m e Is]
Fig. 10. 100% cold-leg break with ECCS: (a) core pressure; (b) cladding surface temperature; (c) mass
flowrate ; and (d) void fraction.
Large-break loss-of-coolant accident analysis 185
_o
-i
.~ 0
u~ 100
a. o
50
m -5000
0
0 5O 100 150 200
Time [s] - 10000
~" 800
- - core inlet
core middle 0.8 -~
I .... core
o?._, ----- upper plenum
.= core outlet
I
Q.
E
600 c
0
o
o.5 /!1 I'
I I
t--
4O0
0
~5
200 0.2 Ii
I:
0 o.o ! \
0 50 100 150 200 0 50 100 150 200
Fig. 11. 100% hot-leg break with ECCS: (a) core pressure; (b) cladding surface temperature; (c) mass
flowrate ; and (d) void fraction.
reflooding of the core takes place. As illustrated in plenum and the core as shown in Fig. 10d. This
Fig. 10b, the cladding surface temperature at the core phenomenon is considered instantaneous void gen-
inlet begins to decrease at 35 s and quenching occurs eration in the core. The core is only divided into 10
at 60 s. Both cladding surface temperatures at the core nodes, each of which stores large a m o u n t of heat
middle and outlet reach a m a x i m u m at 50 s. The accumulated in the heatup phase. A large amount of
cladding at the core outlet is quenched at 110 s. steam is generated when one node representing 1/10
Quenching at the core middle is not observed until core is quenched. Therefore reverse core flow occurs
200 s but it will soon be achieved. The highest and the core void fraction increases. Since the steam
cladding temperature of 1000°C is observed at the generated in the core is released through ADS, the
core middle at 50 s. This is satisfactorily lower than core pressure soon decreases and the ECC water
the limit, 1260°C. enters the core again.
A large oscillation of the core mass flow is observed When the upper plenum is completely filled with
during the quenching phase in Fig. 10c. This cor- the E C C water at around 130 s, the mass flow balance
responds to void fraction oscillations in the lower becomes stable. One third of the E C C water flows out
186 S. KOSHIZUKAet al.
of the break line, and the remainder flows up through (a) 30o
• I "
the core and goes out of ADS.
250 • 25%
5.2. 100% hot-leg break . . . . 50%
" 75%
The 100% hot-leg break is analyzed with the 200 I
designed ECCS. ADS is neglected in the present case. ~"
The calculation results are shown in Fig. I 1. The -~-
temperature at any location in the core shows almost
the same behavior due to the core flow maintained by
!\\1
100
flashing. When LPCI is initiated at 30 s, the cladding a.
temperatures decrease rapidly. This is attributed to
switching from the blowdown calculation to the
REFLA-TRAC as explained before. The temperature
decrease continues until about l0 s after LPCI o .~
initiation because the cold water injected into the 0 50 100 150 200
fractions in the core and the upper plenum decrease Time Is]
again. The core flow reaches steady state at 90 s.
Consequently the cladding surface temperatures are Fig. 12. 75, 50 and 25% cold-leg breaks with ECCS : (a) core
pressure ; and (b) cladding surface temperature at the hottest
kept low enough during the whole period of the 100°,4 point.
hot-leg break.
First, the blowdown and heatup phases without emergency heat removal from the SCLWR core in the
ECCS are calculated. The results show that the cold- event of large-break LOCAs.
leg break is severer than the hot-leg break. LPCI is Acknowledgement--The authors would like to appreciate
designed to reflood the core before the cladding sur- guidance on the use of the REFLA-TRAC code by Dr H.
face temperature reaches the limit. The required Akimoto of the Japan Atomic Energy Research Institute.
capacity of LPCI is 805 kg/s/unit. ADS is also
designed to avoid the steam binding and to cope with REFERENCES
LOCAs of less than 100% break. The analyses with
the ECCS show that the peak cladding temperatures Akimoto H. and Murao Y. (1992) J. Nucl. Sci. Technol. 29,
are 1000°C for the 100% cold-leg break and 1070°C 642.
Akimoto H., Ohnuki A., Abe Y. and Murao Y. (1992) Proc.
for the 25% cold-leg break. In all cases of cold-leg 5th Int. Conf. Topical Mtg on Nuclear Reactor Thermal
breaks, the behavior is almost the same due to ADS. Hydraulics (NURETH-5), p. 1797.
The cladding surface temperature is kept low and Coffman F. D. Jr (1976) NUREG-0065.
no significant heatup occurs at the 100% hot-leg Oka Y. and Koshizuka S. (1992) Proc. Int. Conf. Design and
Safety of Advanced Nuclear Power Plants ( ANP'92), pp.
break. The core flow is maintained by the steam flash-
4.1-1.
ing in the lower plenum for a long time after the Oka Y., Koshizuka S. and Yamasaki Y. (1992) J. Nucl. Sci.
break. The designed ECCS provides capability for Technol. 29, 585.