Long-Term Simulation of Sodium Dynamics During a Large Leakage Sodium-Water Reaction

Abstract

The steam generator of the sodium-cooled reactor is the barrier between the secondary and third loops. When the heat transfer pipe breaks, the water/steam will pour into the sodium and a sodium-water reaction will occur. The pressure in the secondary loop will increase and the rupture disks will burst to reduce the pressure. For the safety analysis, the maximum pressure is limited. For the long term, the pressure pulse weakens and the fluid flow tends to a quasi-steady state several seconds or minutes after leak initiation. Therefore, it is necessary to develop a model to investigate the dynamics of the secondary loop in the long term. The continuity equation, the momentum equation and the energy equation are used to derive the sodium flow model in the secondary loop. The sodium pressure and velocity are described by the one-dimensional differential equation. The lumped parameter method is applied and the differential equations are solved by the Euler method. FORTRAN language is compiled to develop the code. Critical equipment, including the steam generator, buffer tank, pump, rupture disks, and accident discharge tank are considered in the secondary loop model. The sodium velocity and pressure responses varying with time can be obtained. Compared with the data from the safety analysis report, the tendency of the sodium velocity and pressure is consistent. It is proved that the model is reasonable and effective to simulate and analyze the actual long-term effects of sodium dynamics.