Review and assessment of thermodynamic and transport properties for the CONTAIN Code

A study was carried out to review available data and correlations on the thermodynamic and transport properties of materials applicable to the CONTAIN computer code. CONTAIN is the NRC's best-estimate, mechanistic computer code for modeling containment response to a severe accident. Where appropriate, recommendations have been made for suitable approximations for material properties of interests. Based on a modified Benedict-Webb-Rubin (BWR) equation of state, a procedure is introduced for calculating thermodynamic properties for common gases in the CONTAIN code. These gases are nitrogen, oxygen, hydrogen, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, steam, helium, and argon. The thermodynamic equations for density, currently represented in CONTAIN by relatively simple fits, were independently checked and are recommended to be replaced by the Lee-Kesler equation of state which substantially improves accuracy without too much sacrifice in computational efficiency. The accuracy of the calculated values have been found to be generally acceptable. Various correlations and models for single component gas transport properties, viscosity and thermal conductivity, were also assessed with available experimental data. When a suitable correlation or model was not available, transport properties were obtained by performing least-squares fit on experimental data. 50 refs., 126 figs., 3 tabs