Modeling developments for the SAS4A and SASSYS computer codes

The SAS4A and SASSYS computer codes are being developed at Argonne National Laboratory for transient analysis of liquid metal cooled reactors. The SAS4A code is designed to analyse severe loss-of-coolant flow and overpower accidents involving coolant boiling, Cladding failures, and fuel melting and relocation. Recent SAS4A modeling developments include extension of the coolant boiling model to treat sudden fission gas release upon pin failure, expansion of the DEFORM fuel behavior model to handle advanced cladding materials and metallic fuel, and addition of metallic fuel modeling capability to the PINACLE and LEVITATE fuel relocation models. The SASSYS code is intended for the analysis of operational and beyond-design-basis transients, and provides a detailed transient thermal and hydraulic simulation of the core, the primary and secondary coolant circuits, and the balance-of-plant, in addition to a detailed model of the plant control and protection systems. Recent SASSYS modeling developments have resulted in detailed representations of the balance of plant piping network and components, including steam generators, feedwater heaters and pumps, and the turbine. 12 refs., 2 tabs