Thermal reactor safety CNEN research programs

A review of CNEN (National Committee for Nuclear Energy, Italy) programs in the field of thermal reactor safety research is given. The ASCOT program (research program on safety aspects of thermal reactor cores) is briefly described. ASCOT is a program aiming at studying fuel behavior under accident conditions; it is mainly focused on development and experimental testing of analytical models and computer codes relevant to thermohydraulic and mechanical behavior of fuel under transient conditions. The program, fully financed by CNEN, is carried out in CNEN laboratories, in CISE laboratories (particularly for thermohydraulic experiments) and in JRC Ispra Centre (in pile experiments, by ESSOR reactor). Other CNEN research programs in the field of water reactor safety are also described; they concern thermohydraulics and mechanics problems (model development and experimental tests on pressure suppression, ECCS, etc.) and are performed both in CNEN laboratories and in other Italian organizations, under CNEN sponsorship. A short description of some facilities used for ASCOT and other CNEN programs is given: SARA loop (a loop of ESSOR reactor, basically conceived for safety tests, including operation with failed fuel rods); CIRCE and IETI loops (CISE, large-scale facilities for thermohydraulic experiments on blow-down, ECCS, etc.); ADI (a CNEN, large-scale loop where pressure suppression experiments are performed), and so on. Finally, the report describes interesting safety researches on various types of reactors: researches on external events (seismology, etc.), radioactive effluent control (e.g., filtration, effects to environment); these researches also are carried out directly in CNEN laboratories or in other Italian organizations, under CNEN sponsorship. Information is given on a national seismological network and on other installations for these experimental researches