System Integral Test by BWR Drywell Cooler Applied as Accident Management

Abstract

This paper deals with the system interaction performance of the BWR drywell local cooler (DWC) in combination with containment spray as a Japanese Phase-II accident management (AM). By using almost full height simulation test facility (GIRAFFE-DWC) with volumetric scaling ratio of 1/600 for a typical BWR containment, the system integral tests simulating BWR low pressure vessel failure sequence were accomplished during about 14 hours. In case of DWC application, the containment pressure increase was found milder due to DWC heat removal performance. Initial spray timing was delayed about 3 hours and each spray period was reduced almost by half, which contributed to the containment gas compression. These containment pressure transients were confirmed by analyzing the severe accident analysis code of MELCOR. It was concluded that the application of a BWR DWC to Phase-II AM measure is quite promising from the point of delaying or preventing the containment venting. © 2003, Atomic Energy Society of Japan. All rights reserved.