Particle development and transport in PWR cores

During postulated loss of coolant accidents (LOCA) in PWRs corrosion processes at reactor internals can occur producing an increases Zn concentration in the coolant that could deposit on fuel cladding tubes. The growing deposits can influence the thermal fluid dynamic processes in the reactor core. The release of particle systems with wide size distributions is possible through mechanical chipping of these deposits, crystallization and transformation processes. The development of unsolvable solid particles in the primary circuit and fibrous insulation materials could influence the emergency cooling circuit during sump circulation.