Hydrogen challenge mitigation stands as one of the main objectives in the management of severe accidents at Nuclear Power Plants (NPPs). Key strategies for hydrogen control include atmospheric inertization and hydroge...Hydrogen challenge mitigation stands as one of the main objectives in the management of severe accidents at Nuclear Power Plants (NPPs). Key strategies for hydrogen control include atmospheric inertization and hydrogen removal with Passive Autocatalytic Recombiners (PARs) being a commonly accepted approach. However, an examination of PAR operation specificity reveals potential inefficiencies and reliability issues in certain severe accident scenarios. Moreover, during the in-vessel stage of severe accident development, in some severe accident scenarios PARs can unexpectedly become a source of hydrogen detonation. The effectiveness of hydrogen removal systems depends on various factors, including the chosen strategies, severe accident scenarios, reactor building design, and other influencing factors. Consequently, a comprehensive hydrogen mitigation strategy must effectively incorporate a combination of strategies rather than be based on one strategy, taking into consideration the probabilistic risks and uncertainties associated with the implementation of PARs or other traditional methods. In response to these considerations, within the framework of this research it has been suggested a conceptual strategy to mitigate the hydrogen challenge during the in-vessel stage of severe accident development.展开更多
Hydrogen combustion in a nuclear power plant containment building may threaten the integrity of the containment. Hydrogen recombiners and igniters are two methods to reduce hydrogen levels in containment buildings dur...Hydrogen combustion in a nuclear power plant containment building may threaten the integrity of the containment. Hydrogen recombiners and igniters are two methods to reduce hydrogen levels in containment buildings during severe accidents. The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the safety implementation of hydrogen igniters and recombiners. This paper analyzes the risk of deliberate hydrogen ignition and investigates three mitigation measures using igniters only, hydrogen recombiners only or a combination of recombiners and igniters. The results indicate that steam can effectively control the hydrogen flame acceleration and the deflagration-to-detonation transition.展开更多
Effect of water injection on hydrogen generation during severe accident in a 1000 MWe pressurized water reactor was studied. The analyses were carried out with different water injection rates at different core damage ...Effect of water injection on hydrogen generation during severe accident in a 1000 MWe pressurized water reactor was studied. The analyses were carried out with different water injection rates at different core damage stages. The core can be quenched and accident progression can be terminated by water injection at the time before cohesive core debris is formed at lower core region. Hydrogen generation rate decreases with water injection into the core at the peak core temperature of 1700 K, because the core is quenched and reflooded quickly. The water injection at the peak core temperature of 1900 K, the hydrogen generation rate increases at low injection rates of the water, as the core is quenched slowly and the core remains in uncovered condition at high temperatures for a longer time than the situation of high injection rate. At peak core temperature of 2100–2300 K, the Hydrogen generation rate increases by water injection because of the steam serving to the high temperature steam-starved core. Hydrogen generation rate increases significantly after water injection into the core at peak core temperature of 2500 K because of the steam serving to the relocating Zr-U-O mixture. Almost no hydrogen generation can be seen in base case after formation of the molten pool at the lower core region. However, hydrogen is generated if water is injected into the molten pool, because steam serves to the crust supporting the molten pool. Reactor coolant system (RCS) depressurization by opening power operated relief valves has important effect on hydrogen generation. Special attention should be paid to hydrogen generation enhancement caused by RCS depressurization.展开更多
The phenomenology involved in severe accidents in nuclear reactors is highly complex.Currently,integrated analysis programs used for severe accident analysis heavily rely on custom empirical parameters,which introduce...The phenomenology involved in severe accidents in nuclear reactors is highly complex.Currently,integrated analysis programs used for severe accident analysis heavily rely on custom empirical parameters,which introduce considerable uncertainty.Therefore,in recent years,the field of severe accidents has shifted its focus toward applying uncertainty analysis methods to quantify uncertainty in safety assessment programs,known as“best estimate plus uncertainty(BEPU).”This approach aids in enhancing our comprehension of these programs and their further development and improvement.This study concentrates on a third-generation pressurized water reactor equipped with advanced active and passive mitigation strategies.Through an Integrated Severe Accident Analysis Program(ISAA),numerical modeling and uncertainty analysis were conducted on severe accidents resulting from large break loss of coolant accidents.Seventeen uncertainty parameters of the ISAA program were meticulously screened.Using Wilks'formula,the developed uncertainty program code,SAUP,was employed to carry out Latin hypercube sampling,while ISAA was employed to execute batch calculations.Statistical analysis was then conducted on two figures of merit,namely hydrogen generation and the release of fission products within the pressure vessel.Uncertainty calculations revealed that hydrogen production and the fraction of fission product released exhibited a normal distribution,ranging from 182.784 to 330.664 kg and from 15.6 to 84.3%,respectively.The ratio of hydrogen production to reactor thermal power fell within the range of 0.0578–0.105.A sensitivity analysis was performed for uncertain input parameters,revealing significant correlations between the failure temperature of the cladding oxide layer,maximum melt flow rate,size of the particulate debris,and porosity of the debris with both hydrogen generation and the release of fission products.展开更多
In this study, thermal–hydraulic parameters inside the containment of aWWER-1000/v446 nuclear power plant are simulated in a double-ended cold leg accident for short and long times (by using CONTAIN 2.0 and MELCOR 1....In this study, thermal–hydraulic parameters inside the containment of aWWER-1000/v446 nuclear power plant are simulated in a double-ended cold leg accident for short and long times (by using CONTAIN 2.0 and MELCOR 1.8.6 codes), and the effect of the spray system as an engineering safety feature on parameters mitigation is analyzed with the former code. Along with the development of the accident from design basis accident to beyond design basis accident, the Zircaloy–steam reaction becomes the source of in-vessel hydrogen generation. Hydrogen distribution inside the containment is simulated for a long time (using CONTAIN and MELCOR), and the effect of recombiners on its mitigation is analyzed (using MELCOR). Thermal–hydraulic parameters and hydrogen distribution profiles are presented as the outcome of the investigation. By activating the spray system, the peak points of pressure and temperature occur in the short time and remain belowthe maximumdesign values along the accident time. It is also shown that recombiners have a reliable effect on reducing the hydrogen concentration below flame propagation limit in the accident localization area. The parameters predicted by CONTAIN and MELCOR are in good agreement with the final safety analysis report. The noted discrepancies are discussed and explained.展开更多
The hydrogen deflagration is one of the major risk contributors to threaten the integrity of the containment in a nuclear power plant, and hydrogen control in the case of severe accidents is required by nuclear regula...The hydrogen deflagration is one of the major risk contributors to threaten the integrity of the containment in a nuclear power plant, and hydrogen control in the case of severe accidents is required by nuclear regulations. Based on the large dry containment model developed with the integral severe-accident analysis tool, a small-break loss-of-coolant-accident (LOCA) without HPI, LPI, AFW and containment sprays, leading to the core degradation and large hydrogen generation, is calculated. Hydrogen and steam distribution in containment compartments is investi- gated. The analysis results show that significant hydrogen deflagration risk exits in the reactor coolant pump (RCP) compartment and the cavity during the early period, if no actions are taken to mitigate the effects of hydrogen accu- mulation.展开更多
文摘Hydrogen challenge mitigation stands as one of the main objectives in the management of severe accidents at Nuclear Power Plants (NPPs). Key strategies for hydrogen control include atmospheric inertization and hydrogen removal with Passive Autocatalytic Recombiners (PARs) being a commonly accepted approach. However, an examination of PAR operation specificity reveals potential inefficiencies and reliability issues in certain severe accident scenarios. Moreover, during the in-vessel stage of severe accident development, in some severe accident scenarios PARs can unexpectedly become a source of hydrogen detonation. The effectiveness of hydrogen removal systems depends on various factors, including the chosen strategies, severe accident scenarios, reactor building design, and other influencing factors. Consequently, a comprehensive hydrogen mitigation strategy must effectively incorporate a combination of strategies rather than be based on one strategy, taking into consideration the probabilistic risks and uncertainties associated with the implementation of PARs or other traditional methods. In response to these considerations, within the framework of this research it has been suggested a conceptual strategy to mitigate the hydrogen challenge during the in-vessel stage of severe accident development.
文摘Hydrogen combustion in a nuclear power plant containment building may threaten the integrity of the containment. Hydrogen recombiners and igniters are two methods to reduce hydrogen levels in containment buildings during severe accidents. The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the safety implementation of hydrogen igniters and recombiners. This paper analyzes the risk of deliberate hydrogen ignition and investigates three mitigation measures using igniters only, hydrogen recombiners only or a combination of recombiners and igniters. The results indicate that steam can effectively control the hydrogen flame acceleration and the deflagration-to-detonation transition.
基金Supported by National Basic Research Program of China (No.2009CB724301)
文摘Effect of water injection on hydrogen generation during severe accident in a 1000 MWe pressurized water reactor was studied. The analyses were carried out with different water injection rates at different core damage stages. The core can be quenched and accident progression can be terminated by water injection at the time before cohesive core debris is formed at lower core region. Hydrogen generation rate decreases with water injection into the core at the peak core temperature of 1700 K, because the core is quenched and reflooded quickly. The water injection at the peak core temperature of 1900 K, the hydrogen generation rate increases at low injection rates of the water, as the core is quenched slowly and the core remains in uncovered condition at high temperatures for a longer time than the situation of high injection rate. At peak core temperature of 2100–2300 K, the Hydrogen generation rate increases by water injection because of the steam serving to the high temperature steam-starved core. Hydrogen generation rate increases significantly after water injection into the core at peak core temperature of 2500 K because of the steam serving to the relocating Zr-U-O mixture. Almost no hydrogen generation can be seen in base case after formation of the molten pool at the lower core region. However, hydrogen is generated if water is injected into the molten pool, because steam serves to the crust supporting the molten pool. Reactor coolant system (RCS) depressurization by opening power operated relief valves has important effect on hydrogen generation. Special attention should be paid to hydrogen generation enhancement caused by RCS depressurization.
基金This work was supported financially by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.12375176).
文摘The phenomenology involved in severe accidents in nuclear reactors is highly complex.Currently,integrated analysis programs used for severe accident analysis heavily rely on custom empirical parameters,which introduce considerable uncertainty.Therefore,in recent years,the field of severe accidents has shifted its focus toward applying uncertainty analysis methods to quantify uncertainty in safety assessment programs,known as“best estimate plus uncertainty(BEPU).”This approach aids in enhancing our comprehension of these programs and their further development and improvement.This study concentrates on a third-generation pressurized water reactor equipped with advanced active and passive mitigation strategies.Through an Integrated Severe Accident Analysis Program(ISAA),numerical modeling and uncertainty analysis were conducted on severe accidents resulting from large break loss of coolant accidents.Seventeen uncertainty parameters of the ISAA program were meticulously screened.Using Wilks'formula,the developed uncertainty program code,SAUP,was employed to carry out Latin hypercube sampling,while ISAA was employed to execute batch calculations.Statistical analysis was then conducted on two figures of merit,namely hydrogen generation and the release of fission products within the pressure vessel.Uncertainty calculations revealed that hydrogen production and the fraction of fission product released exhibited a normal distribution,ranging from 182.784 to 330.664 kg and from 15.6 to 84.3%,respectively.The ratio of hydrogen production to reactor thermal power fell within the range of 0.0578–0.105.A sensitivity analysis was performed for uncertain input parameters,revealing significant correlations between the failure temperature of the cladding oxide layer,maximum melt flow rate,size of the particulate debris,and porosity of the debris with both hydrogen generation and the release of fission products.
基金Part of this research has been developed under the auspices of EU H2020 Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme Marie Sklodowska-Curie Actions COFUND Grant SIRCIW,Agreement No.663830.
文摘In this study, thermal–hydraulic parameters inside the containment of aWWER-1000/v446 nuclear power plant are simulated in a double-ended cold leg accident for short and long times (by using CONTAIN 2.0 and MELCOR 1.8.6 codes), and the effect of the spray system as an engineering safety feature on parameters mitigation is analyzed with the former code. Along with the development of the accident from design basis accident to beyond design basis accident, the Zircaloy–steam reaction becomes the source of in-vessel hydrogen generation. Hydrogen distribution inside the containment is simulated for a long time (using CONTAIN and MELCOR), and the effect of recombiners on its mitigation is analyzed (using MELCOR). Thermal–hydraulic parameters and hydrogen distribution profiles are presented as the outcome of the investigation. By activating the spray system, the peak points of pressure and temperature occur in the short time and remain belowthe maximumdesign values along the accident time. It is also shown that recombiners have a reliable effect on reducing the hydrogen concentration below flame propagation limit in the accident localization area. The parameters predicted by CONTAIN and MELCOR are in good agreement with the final safety analysis report. The noted discrepancies are discussed and explained.
文摘The hydrogen deflagration is one of the major risk contributors to threaten the integrity of the containment in a nuclear power plant, and hydrogen control in the case of severe accidents is required by nuclear regulations. Based on the large dry containment model developed with the integral severe-accident analysis tool, a small-break loss-of-coolant-accident (LOCA) without HPI, LPI, AFW and containment sprays, leading to the core degradation and large hydrogen generation, is calculated. Hydrogen and steam distribution in containment compartments is investi- gated. The analysis results show that significant hydrogen deflagration risk exits in the reactor coolant pump (RCP) compartment and the cavity during the early period, if no actions are taken to mitigate the effects of hydrogen accu- mulation.
