The benefits of validation matrices for thermal hydraulic computer codes

Internationally agreed validation matrices for thermal hydraulic system computer codes have been established for pressurized water reactors, boiling water reactors and Russian pressurized water-cooled and water-moderated energy reactors. Matrices for pressurized water reactors and boiling water reactors have been established by sub-groups of the Task Group on Thermal Hydraulic System Behavior of the OECD/NEA Committee on Safety of Nuclear Installations. To establish validation matrices Sor Russian pressurized water-cooled and water-moderated energy reactors a multi-national Working Group has been formed on the initiative of the Federal Ministry for Research and Technology of the Federal Republic of Germany. The matrices will provide a guide for code validation, will be a basis for comparisons of code predictions performed with different system codes, and will contribute to the quantification of the uncertainty range of code predictions.