Multi dimensional analysis of Design Basis Events using MARS-LMR

Abstract

KALIMER-600 (Korea Advanced Liquid Metal Reactor), which is a pool type SFR (Sodium-cooled Fast Reactor), was developed by KAERI (Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute). DBE (Design Basis Events) for KALIMER-600 has been analyzed in the one dimension. In this study, the one dimensional analyzed sodium hot pool is modified to a three dimensional node system, because the one dimensional analysis cannot represent the phenomena of the inside pool of a big size pool with many compositions, such as UIS (Upper Internal Structure), IHX (Intermediate Heat eXchanger), DHX (Decay Heat eXchanger), and pump. The results of the multi-dimensional analysis compared with the one dimensional analysis results in normal operation, TOP (Transient of Over Power), LOF (Loss of Flow), and LOHS (Loss of Heat Sink) conditions. First, the results in normal operation condition show the good agreement between the one and multi-dimensional analysis. However, according to the sodium temperatures of the core inlet, outlet, the fuel central line, cladding and PDRC (Passive Decay heat Removal Circuit), the temperatures of the one dimensional analysis are generally higher than the multi-dimensional analysis in conditions except the normal operation state, and the PDRC operation time in the one dimensional analysis is generally longer than the multi-dimensional analysis. In particular, we can see the reverse and mixing flow phenomena in LOHS better than TOP and LOF, which affect the peak temperature in the one dimensional analysis at 330 s but is not observed in the multi-dimensional analysis. In addition, the different temperatures at the central line of fuel and cladding are shown due to different mass flow in the core. The two PDRCs show the almost same results in one and multi-dimensional analysis, respectively. However, in the comparison between the one and multi-dimension, the heat removal capability of PDRC in the multi-dimensional analysis is better than the one dimensional analysis at the beginning of calculation. The aspects change at the ending of calculation due to the different mass flow in PDRC and over flow sodium temperature. In wrap up, the sodium temperatures of the core in the one dimensional analysis are generally higher than the multidimensional analysis. The temperature peak point in the one dimensional analysis under LOHS does not show in the multi-dimensional analysis, because the reverse and mixing flow pattern between the hot pool and the core outlet region. Even thought there are some different results between the two different dimensional analyses, we can say that the KALIMER-600 system has the safety margins. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.