Natural convection phenomena in a liquid metal pool due to relocated and heap of heat-generating core debris: Numerical study

In the present numerical study, authors have investigated the natural convection heat transfer and fluid flow characteristics in a pool due to the heat generating core debris, i.e. decay heat in a typical fast breeder reactor. Two significant aspects of decay heat removal from debris under core disruptive accidents have been analyzed. These key aspects are (i) relocation of heat-generating core debris at the different locations inside the main vessel and (ii) effect of debris heap on heat transfer from source to ambient. These cases are analyzed extensively on full-scale three-dimensional reactor model with all major components. Multiple tray-type core catcher has incorporated with passive pipes over one collection tray. The present numerical study provides a robust and practical feasible core debris retention arrangement after a severe accident in fast breeder reactors. Also, the study is focused on a feasible array of core collection trays that maintained heat-generating debris and heat shield trays under safe thermal designed limit (similar to 1200 K for debris and similar to 923 K for trays). This eliminates the further advancement of accidents and leakage of radioactive material into environments. During our analysis, it has been found that single tray with passive pipes maintained the heat-generating debris and tray under safe thermal limit for a fraction of 50 % destroyed core relocated to lower plenum while remaining heat-generating debris is present in its original position. Multiple tray arrangements accommodate the whole core debris within safe thermal design limits. With the possibility of debris heap after its relocation to the lower plenum, it has been found that heap angle less than 3 degrees does not affect the integrity of core catcher.