Transient analysis of ABWR reactor using a best estimate code

Since the recirculation pumps are mounted internally within the ABWR, core flow will decrease rapidly in the event of a loss of their driving force. A rapid reduction in core flow may cause the onset of boiling transition (BT). Therefore, in order to prevent the onset of BT, a motor-generator (MG) set is added to the power supply system of the reactor internal pump (RIP). Recent studies, however, have shown that dryout within a fuel assembly over a short time period will result in only a small rise in fuel cladding temperature and thus does not pose a threat to fuel integrity. In response to this finding, the standards committee of the Atomic Energy Society of Japan (AESJ) has proposed a post-BT standard which incorporates a cladding temperature criterion. If it is assumed that the MG-set is not added to the RIP power supply system, the result of the safety analysis shows the onset of BT with a subsequent rise in fuel cladding temperature. Although BT occurs under the conservative assumptions of this safety analysis, a possibility exists that BT will not occur under actual operating conditions. The best estimate code TRACG was used to show that BT does not occur and that fuel integrity can be sufficiently maintained under actual conditions. (author)