Development of Technologies on Innovative-Simplified Nuclear Power Plant Using High-Efficiency Steam Injector: Part 14—Cooling Characteristics of the Particulate Core Material Debris Accumulated in Horizontal Narrow Gap

When LOCA occurs in proposed nuclear reactor systems, the coolability of the core would be kept by the SI core injection system and therefore the probability of the core meltdown is negligible small. In this research work, we make it clear that the coolability of the RPV bottom is secured even if a part of the core should melt and a substantial amount of debris should be deposited on the lower plenum. In this report, we examined experimentally the coolability of the RPV bottom that a Zircaloy-based loose debris layer is deposited on. We set up a heat supply section made by SUS304 on the loose debris layer and measured the heat flux released into the loose debris bed and the temperature at the lower surface of the heat supply section. In addition, we measured the temperature distribution at the bottom of the loose debris bed. It became clear in this study that the coolability depends on the amount of coolant supplied, and the hot spot would not occur when coolant is supplied. Even if a hotspot should occur in the oxidization of loose metal debris accompanied with rapid heat generation. It is found that when a small amount of coolant can be supplied, it disappears because of a high capillary force of oxidized loose debris. So it is confirmed that the soundness of RPV is basically maintained.