Proposed Method to Predict Core Inventory History and Operator Time Margin during Small Break Accident

Abstract

The blowdown history of the TMI-2 accident up to the isolation of the relief valve associated with a small break LOCA is reviewed briefly. An analysis is made to determine what instruments should be added in the core in order to prevent core damage in the case of the TMI-2 accident. With the added instruments a procedure is presented on how to predict the uncovered level of the core and how to calculate operator time margin. Sample calculations are done for the TMI-2 accident to determine the uncovered level and operator time margin. Finally, the map to show the uncovered level of the core and operator time margin is drawn with measurable parameters by the above methods.