Integrity Assessment of Cables Under Postulated Electrical Fire Accidents in a Zero-Power Research Reactor

Fire protection and appropriate management are important to ensure security of nuclear facilities alike other industries. While relevant hazard analyses have been successfully carried out for commercial reactors, based on recently strengthened IAEA guideline and national standards, examination of research reactors is also required. The objective of this study is to represent integrity assessment of safety related cables connected to operating console in the control room of a zero-power research reactor. Two postulated electrical fire scenarios were identified among diverse accident causes and systematically analyzed by two numerical softwares with different turbulence models. Both polyvinyl chloride and cross-linked polyethylene were selected, respectively, as the representatives of various thermoplastic and thermoset cable materials. As results, temperature and heat flux profiles of the cables were calculated. Their maximum values were compared with the corresponding damage criteria, of which details and key findings will be discussed.