Containment related tests at HDR - energy transfer to structures

The containment experiments conducted at the HDR facility represent an important contribution to a better understanding of the physical processes taking place within the containment after a LOCA. The experiments have greatly expanded the limited data base of measured energy and mass transfer rates within and between large, complex geometry volumes. The new data has: (A) In several domains bracketed the parameter range to be found in actual reactor containments. As a consequence, interpolation rather than extrapolation of experimental data can now be used in containment analysis. (B) Provided severe tests of some modeling aspects. The tests have shown that in the best estimate sense shortcomings exist in the modeling of: (1) energy transfer into structures; and (2) short term pressure gradients between containment zones. This presentation analyses the experiment to calculation agreement of energy transfer into structures