Title: Generation of destructive forces during fuel/coolant interactions under severe reactivity initiated accident conditions
Abstract: During a reactivity initiated accident (RIA) a large and prompt amount of energy is deposited within fuel rods. Consequent fuel melting and rod failure can lead to a fine dispersal of fuel melt in coolant, resulting in a violent thermal interaction between the fuel melt and coolant (i.e. fuel/coolant interaction — FCI). In the pre-mixing stage, the nature of the fuel release mode from failed rods is dominant factor influencing FCI energetics, where the internal rod pressure is a prime factor influencing melt jet characteristics. In this study, the generation of the destructive forces during FCIs in a severe RIA was demonstrated through in-pile experiments with LWR uranium dioxide fuels. The intensities of the destructive forces, i.e., the pressure pulse and the water hammer, were correlated with the initial internal pressure of the test fuel rods. Debris particle size distribution was also extensively examined. Rosin-Rammler's law was used to fit the distribution, and the correlation between the intensities of the destructive forces and the specific surface area of the debris is presented.
Publication Year: 1994
Publication Date: 1994-02-01
Language: en
Type: article
Indexed In: ['crossref']
Access and Citation
Cited By Count: 10
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