DESIGN OF INTERMEDIATE TEMPERATURE TEST FACILITY FOR REMELTING OF DEBRIS BED

抄録

Motivated by understanding of severe accident phenomena, extensive studies have been conducted to investigate the thermal-hydraulics of both debris bed and melt pool which may form during a severe accident of light water reactors. However, little work has been done to address the debris remelting phenomenon following a uncoolable debris bed, although it plays an important role in melt pool formation and accident progression. The present study is intended to fill the knowledge gap. For this purpose, a test facility was developed to investigate the remelting process of a particulate bed packed with two-component particles. Electric heating is employed to simulate the decay heat. This paper presents the detailed description of the test facility design, including the rationales of the simulant materials for the oxidic and metallic components of corium, estimation of heating power distribution, design simulation of the heating rod, selection and validation of instrumentation as well as commissioning of the experimental facility.