Station blackout analysis for AHWR using CATHARE

The strong earthquake followed by Tsunami, a low frequency and high-consequence natural disaster, at Fukushima has shaken the world's faith in nuclear energy. The new reactor design around the world has started looking ways to mitigate this scenario with innovative design features whereas every nuclear country has started reviewing their existing reactor response to this scenario and minimize the consequences or limit the damage progression. India has designed an advanced reactor concept i.e. Advanced Heavy Water Reactor (AHWR). This reactor has many passive design features to mitigate the consequences for not only the postulated design basis events but also for beyond design basis events. During station blackout scenario leading to hot shutdown, the Isolation Condensers (ICs) are intended to remove decay heat with the help of overhead large pool of water ie. Gravity Driven Water Pool (GDWP). This paper outlines the assessment of station blackout scenario for AHWR using last version of French best estimate computer code CATHARE2. First, it explains the modeling of main heat transport system of AHWR and isolation Condenser loop along with GDWP in CATHARE followed by thermal hydraulic safety assessment of station blackout scenario. (author)