Long-Term Cooling of an SBLOCA: Boron Precipitation in the Core, Boron Dilution in the Steam Generators

When soluble boron is used to control reactivity, there are two particular events which can challenge long-term core cooling (LTCC) during the small break loss-of-coolant accident (SBLOCA): boron precipitation and boron dilution. The initial consequences of the SBLOCA are mitigated by the emergency safety systems, but the core continues to boil. As boron is less volatile than steam, the steam is virtually boron free. All the boron remains in the core, the boron concentration in the core rises. If the solubility limit is reached, precipitation could occur. The boron precipitation event was historically considered to be bounded by the large break accident. However, there are characteristics of the SBLOCA which cannot be neglected and an SBLOCA specific methodology is required. On the opposite end of the boron concentration spectrum is the SBLOCA boron dilution event. The steam generators remove heat from the primary and condense the steam. The condensation of the boron-free steam can result in the accumulation of a deborated slug of water. If natural circulation restarts, the slug can be transported toward the core and potentially reduce the core boron concentration enough to induce a recriticality. This thesis describes two analytical methodologies for these SBLOCA LTCC events. The two methodologies have a similar approach. Both use transient system analyses for inputs to and justification of the follow-on boron concentration calculations. For boron precipitation, a maximized concentration is calculated with the Small Break Boron Precipitation model. For boron dilution, a minimized core inlet concentration is calculated using computational fluid dynamics.

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Science

Level thesis:degree_level

masters

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Mechanical Engineering

Department dc:contributor.department

Mechanical Engineering

Grantor dc:publisher

Virginia Tech

Year dc:date.issued

2014

Author dc:creator

• Gerken, Lisa M.

Chair dc:contributor.committeechair

• Liu, Yang

Committee members dc:contributor.committeemember

• Pierson, Mark Alan
• Schor, Liliane

• small break LOCA
• boron dilution
• boron precipitation
• long-term core cooling

Statement dc:rights

• In Copyright

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/

Dc Identifier Other

vt_gsexam:2173

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/24906