Evaluating the Effectiveness of Alternate Entry Condition into the Severe Accident Management Guidance

In this study, the effectiveness of the CA as an alternate means is evaluated quantitatively by utilizing the Modular Accident Analysis Program (MAAP) 5 computer code including the MAAP5-DOSE module, which can analyze the radiation level inside the containment. The effectiveness of the CA has been investigated by utilizing the MAAP5 code including the MAAP5- DOSE. The onset of core damage is considered to be a core (fuel rod cladding) condition at the time when the core exit temperature reaches the value prescribed for transition to Severe Accident Management Guidance (SAMG), which is 1200 .deg. F. However, during a shutdown state, the core exit thermocouples measurements are unavailable after lifting reactor vessel head. Thus, an alternate means to detect the onset of core damage is necessary to cover all plant operating states. In order for that, a Computational Aid (CA), 'Radiation Level as a Functional of Time after Shutdown,' has been developed. The upper containment radiation instrumentation is a gross gamma monitor, and has a reliable instrumentation range during severe accidents. It can be used for detecting onset of core damage. Thus, the radiation level can be used as alternative means of the entry condition into the SAMG. It has been shown that the SAMG entry timings determined by using the core exit thermocouple measurements and by the radiation monitoring with the CA would not be differentiated. The time difference estimates entering SAMG would be less 15 min which would not influence the operator action significantly