Benchmark Analysis of an EBR-II Shutdown Heat Removal Test

Closed for Proposals

Project Type

Coordinated Research Project

Project Code

I31021

CRP

1830

Approved Date

2012/02/27

Project Status

Active - Ongoing

Start Date

2012/05/23

Expected End Date

2016/05/23

Completed Date

2016/05/30

Description

The Coordinated Research Project (CRP) addresses Shutdown Heat Removal Tests (SHRT) performed at the Experimental Breeder Reactor-II (EBR-II) within the framework of the US Integral Fast Reactor (IFR) development and demonstration program. The CRP's will improve the participants’ simulation capabilities in the various fields of research and design of sodium cooled fast reactors through data and codes validation and qualification. The CRP work plan includes for each of the participants (i) EBR-II model development on the basis of the specifications provided by ANL for selected shutdown heat removal test(s); (ii) test simulations; (iii) compilation of results; (iv) comparisons of results against test data and against the other participants; and (v) analysis and recommendations for improved modelling aiming at the uncertainties reduction.

Objectives

To improve the Member States' analytical capabilities in the field of fast reactor simulation and design contributing towards extending the validation and verification of state-of-the-art liquid metal cooled fast reactor codes to accurately simulate the primary coolant loop behaviour during loss-of-flow accidents; particularly on predicting natural convective cooling accurately.

Specific Objectives

Evaluation of the following parameters that predict the transient behaviour of the primary coolant loop:
- Reactor core flow and temperatures (measurements obtained from the instrumented subassemblies XX09 and XX10 for axial distributions at fuel centerline, fuel surface, coolant, and structures);
- IHX sodium outlet temperature
- Reactor inlet sodium temperature and flow rate

Evaluation of uncertainties for prediction of:
- Flow rates;
- Fuel, cladding, coolant, and structure temperatures along the length of a subassembly;
- Transition to natural circulation.

Simulation of shutdown heat removal tests using different codes, data, and models