Publications Details
Melt propagation and oxidation in core debris beds
A two-dimensional model of melt progression, oxidation and natural convection in reactor core debris beds has been developed. Three fields are considered in the model: vapor, melt and solid. Conservation equations are solved for the species of interest in each field. Momentum equations that are based on Darcy's law are solved for the vapor and the melt and a simplified model is used to calculate the motion of the solid as it settles downward. An energy equation is included that accounts for melting/freezing, convection, conduction, oxidation and decay heating. Key results from a sensitivity study include: (1) gas velocities increase rapidly at the onset of oxidation and subsequently decrease when the bed becomes steam-starved; (2) natural convection flows are sensitive to radial variations in the decay heat; (3) raising the pressure in the bed and the upper plenum increases the amount of steam that is available for oxidation and leads to much higher temperatures and gas velocities; (4) reducing the average particle diameter decreases the permeability and significantly lowers gas velocities; and (5) solutions are sensitive to conditions in the upper plenum and consequently, melt progression models discussed here must be coupled to a mechanistic code, such as MELPROG or SCDAP, in order to analyze specific accident sequences. 33 refs., 20 figs.