MELCOR Evaluation Techniques for Gas Redistribution in the MHTGR Reactor Building Following a Depressurization Accident Scenario
Abstract
A novel method of MELCOR model creation was used to produce 1/28th-scale and full-scale representations of the MHTGR reactor building to investigate the temporal and spatial movement of gas concentrations in support of a gas-cooled reactor safety study. The models were tested in a variety of coolant blowdown scenarios as a sensitivity study of the models. Simulation results compared favorably to expected trends seen in design documentation, a confirmation of model success. Further study of results found that little natural refill occurs in the models over the test period of 24 hours, as volumes are quickly voided with the blowdown of coolant, excluding scenarios were little blowdown occurred due to complex geometry. These models will be applied to guide the design of a planned experimental facility. The method of input creation, along with the models themselves, were thoroughly documented in the efforts for future research in this region.
Citation
Buendel, Colten Zachariah (2021). MELCOR Evaluation Techniques for Gas Redistribution in the MHTGR Reactor Building Following a Depressurization Accident Scenario. Master's thesis, Texas A&M University. Available electronically from https : / /hdl .handle .net /1969 .1 /196349.