Severe accident analyses of a BWR with MAAP5 code. Station blackout and large-break LOCA

Calculations were performed for a station blackout (TBU) sequence and a large-break loss-of-coolant accident (AE) sequence of a typical BWR-5 plant with modified Mark-II type containment by the MAAP5 code. The core damage process, both within the reactor vessel before it fails and in the containment afterwards, and the resultant impact on the containment including hydrogen production were investigated. Sensitivity analyses focusing on direct contact heating (DCH) and zirconium oxidation, which affect on the consequences of severe accidents, were also performed. If extensive DCH does not occur in the TBU sequence, failure of the containment vessel can be postponed. On the other hand, concrete ablation at a floor and a side wall in the pedestal due to molten core - concrete interaction (MCCI) significantly increases, because a large amount of debris with high temperature stays inside the pedestal. Although the hydrogen production is affected by the zirconium oxidation model, the differences of hydrogen production are within ± 10% in the case of TBU sequence. (author)