Prediction of counter-current flow limitation at hot leg pipe during a small-break LOCA

The possibility of hot leg flooding during reflux condensation cooling after a small-break loss-of-coolant accident in a nuclear power plant is evaluated. The vapor and liquid velocities in hot leg and steam generator tubes are calculated during reflux condensation cooling with the accident scenarios of three typical break sizes, 0.13, 1.02 and 10.19% cold leg break. The effect of initial water level to counter-current flow limitation is taken into account. It is predicted that the hot leg flooding is precluded when all steam generators are available for heat removal. It is also shown that both hot leg flooding and SG flooding are possible under the operation of one steam generator. Therefore, it can be said that the occurrence of hot leg flooding under reflux condensation cooling is possible when the number of steam generators available for heat removal is limited. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.