Journal of Nuclear Science, Engineering and Technology (JONSAT)
In cooperation with the Iranian Nuclear Society

LBLOCA accident investigation using TRACE code in a VVER-1000 reactor

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

S. Ekbatani-Amlashi 1
O. Safarzadeh 2
A.S. Shirani 1

1 Faculty of Nuclear Engineering, Shahid Beheshti University, Postalcode: 1983963113, Tehran - Iran

2 Faculty of Engineering, Shahed University, Postalcode: 3319118651, Tehran - Iran

https://doi.org/10.24200/nst.2020.1094
Abstract
The loss of coolant accident is due to the reduction of the coolant fluid volume in the first circuit. The direct cause of this accident is the mechanical failure or fatigue in the material of the first circuit components during the power plant operation. This accident, which is a design-based accident, is an important factor in assessing a nuclear power plant safety. If the break occurs in the main circuit of the first circuit with a diameter greater than 25% of the cross-section area, it shall be referred to as a large break. In this paper, this accident with a break diameter of 850 mm is modeled and analyzed using the TRACE code in a VVER-1000 reactor. The TRACE code is specifically designed for coolant loss accidents. With the help of this analysis, it is possible to have an accurate estimate of the reactor's safety and to obtain significant economic considerations instead of conservative assumptions assessment. Finally, the results of the TRACE code have been compared with the final safety analysis report of the power plant as well as previous research by the RELAP5. The results indicate the accuracy of the TRACE code in modeling the large break accident.

Highlights

 
1.              S. Bajorek, TRACE V5. 0 Theory Manual, Field Equations, Solution Methods and Physical Models, (U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, USA, 2008).
2.              M.I. Radaideh, T. Kozlowski, Y.M. Farawila, Loss of coolant accident analysis under restriction of reverse flow, Nucl. Eng. Technology 51, 1532-1539 (2019).
3.              C. Queral, et al. AP1000® Large-Break LOCA BEPU analysis with TRACE code, Ann. Nucl. Energy 85, 576-589 (2015).
4.              J. Montero-Mayorga, C. Queral, J. Gonzalez-Cadelo, AP1000® SBLOCA simulations with TRACE code, Ann. Nucl. Energy 75, 87-100 (2015).
5.              C.-Y. Chen, C. Shih, J.-R. Wang, The alternate mitigation strategies on the extreme event of the LOCA and the SBO with the TRACE Chinshan BWR4 model, Nucl. Eng. Des. 256, 332-340 (2013).
6.              B. Miglierini, T. Kozlowski, V. Kopecek, Uncertainty analysis of rod ejection accident in VVER-1000 reactor, Ann Nucl Energy 132, 628–635 (2019).
7.              Y. Alzaben, V.H. Sanchez-Espinoza, R. Stieglitz, Analysis of a steam line break accident of a generic SMART-plant with a boron-free core using the coupled code TRACE/PARCS, Nucl. Eng. Des. 350, 33–42 (2019).
8.              AEOI, Final Safety Analysis Report (FSAR), (Chapter 15, Atomic Energy Organization of Iran, Tehran, Iran, 2008).
9.              M.M. Khalife-Shoushtari, M.S. thesis, Sharif University of Technology, (2010).

Keywords

VVER-1000 reactor
LBLOCA
TRACE code
 
1.              S. Bajorek, TRACE V5. 0 Theory Manual, Field Equations, Solution Methods and Physical Models, (U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, USA, 2008).
2.              M.I. Radaideh, T. Kozlowski, Y.M. Farawila, Loss of coolant accident analysis under restriction of reverse flow, Nucl. Eng. Technology 51, 1532-1539 (2019).
3.              C. Queral, et al. AP1000® Large-Break LOCA BEPU analysis with TRACE code, Ann. Nucl. Energy 85, 576-589 (2015).
4.              J. Montero-Mayorga, C. Queral, J. Gonzalez-Cadelo, AP1000® SBLOCA simulations with TRACE code, Ann. Nucl. Energy 75, 87-100 (2015).
5.              C.-Y. Chen, C. Shih, J.-R. Wang, The alternate mitigation strategies on the extreme event of the LOCA and the SBO with the TRACE Chinshan BWR4 model, Nucl. Eng. Des. 256, 332-340 (2013).
6.              B. Miglierini, T. Kozlowski, V. Kopecek, Uncertainty analysis of rod ejection accident in VVER-1000 reactor, Ann Nucl Energy 132, 628–635 (2019).
7.              Y. Alzaben, V.H. Sanchez-Espinoza, R. Stieglitz, Analysis of a steam line break accident of a generic SMART-plant with a boron-free core using the coupled code TRACE/PARCS, Nucl. Eng. Des. 350, 33–42 (2019).
8.              AEOI, Final Safety Analysis Report (FSAR), (Chapter 15, Atomic Energy Organization of Iran, Tehran, Iran, 2008).
9.              M.M. Khalife-Shoushtari, M.S. thesis, Sharif University of Technology, (2010).

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