Simulant melt experiments for the investigations of the in-vessel core catcher performance during severe accidents

K. H. Kang, R. J. Park, S. B. Kim, K. Y. Suh, F. B. Cheung, J. L. Rempe

Research output: Contribution to conferencePaperpeer-review

Abstract

LAVA-GAP experiments were performed to investigate the thermal and mechanical performance of the in-vessel core catcher which was proposed to improve IVR (In-Vessel Retention) for high power reactors. In the LAVA-GAP experiments, alumina melt was used as a core material simulant. The hemispherical in-vessel core catcher made of carbon steel was installed inside the lower head vessel maintaining a uniform gap of 10mm from the inner surface of the lower head vessel. Two types of in-vessel core catcher were used in this study. The first one is a single layered in-vessel core catcher without an internal coating, and the other one is a two layered in-vessel core catcher with a 0.5mm-thick ZrO2 internal coating. LAVA-GAP experimental results indicate that an internally coated in-vessel core catcher has better thermal performance compared with an uncoated in-vessel core catcher. For the precise investigations on the thermal and mechanical response of the in-vessel core catcher, thermal analyses using LiLAC code and metallurgical inspections were performed. LiLAC calculation results suggest that the coating layer could lessen the thermal attack transferred to the core catcher and result in improving the integrity of the core catcher in the LAVA-GAP experiments.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages2995-3002
Number of pages8
StatePublished - 2005
EventAmerican Nuclear Society - International Congress on Advances in Nuclear Power Plants 2005, ICAPP'05 - Seoul, Korea, Republic of
Duration: May 15 2005May 19 2005

Other

OtherAmerican Nuclear Society - International Congress on Advances in Nuclear Power Plants 2005, ICAPP'05
Country/TerritoryKorea, Republic of
CitySeoul
Period5/15/055/19/05

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Nuclear Energy and Engineering
  • Safety, Risk, Reliability and Quality

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