Title: The influence of different hydraulics models in treatment of some physical processes in super-critical states of light water reactors accidents

Authors: Fahd Al Mutairi; S.M. Khaled

Addresses: Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Tabuk, Tabuk, Saudi Arabia ' Department of Studies and Basic Sciences, Community College, University of Tabuk, Tabuk, Saudi Arabia; Department of Mathematics, Faculty of Sciences, Helwan University, Cairo, Egypt

Abstract: This work presents the development and testing of some thermal hydraulic models designed to address the limitations of using the Homogeneous Equilibrium Model (HEM) in predicting and simulating the hydraulic response of the positive reactivity-initiated power excursion accidents in small light water reactors. The neutronic response of such accidents has been investigated based on the neutron diffusion method. Most of the power reactors have a code system to analyse such accidents. Unfortunately, the training and research of Budapest University of Technology (BME) has to build its own code system. In this sense, a number of different 3D space-time-dependent neutron diffusion models with thermal hydraulic feedback have been introduced, compared and tested together and with the point-kinetic REMEG model for this purpose. The results show that the fuel parameters are maintained below specified limits during the accident so that fuel failure and release of radioactivity will not occur.

Keywords: hydraulics; nuclear accidents; HEM; homogeneous equilibrium model; neutron diffusion models; reactivity; point-kinetic models; hydraulic modelling; super-critical states; light water reactors; LWR accidents; thermal hydraulic models; fuel parameters; fuel failure; radioactivity release; nuclear safety; nuclear energy; nuclear power.

DOI: 10.1504/IJNEST.2014.064940

International Journal of Nuclear Energy Science and Technology, 2014 Vol.8 No.4, pp.290 - 309

Received: 02 Jan 2014
Accepted: 06 May 2014
Published online: 28 Oct 2014 *

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