Numerical Research on Fuel Rod Progression During Core Degradation Process Using MELCOR

Abstract

Core degradation experiment will be conducted in Fuel Rod Melt Progression apparatus (FROMA) to investigate the distribution of mass and energy in designed fuel rod during a core degradation process. Numerical research on the core degradation experiment is mainly to evaluate the designed parameters of FROMA. The pre-numerical study was conducted using the widely accepted severe accident analysis software MELCOR. The fuel rods used in the experiment consisted of real reactor fuel elements, and the designed fuel rods were electrically heated with internal center tungsten-rhenium rod to a very high temperature. Numerical analysis model is described, and the input parameters are in accord with experimental conditions. In the transient period of core degradation, the production hydrogen and the distribution of mass and temperature are obtained. All the predicted MELCOR results will be compared with the experimental measurements.