Best Estimate Analysis of PHEBUS FPT1 Test Using RELAP/SCDAPSIM Code

The PHEBUS-FP program is an outstanding example of an international cooperative research program that is yielding valuable data for validating severe accident analysis computer codes. The main objective of the PHEBUS FPT1 experiment was to study the processes in the overheated reactor core, release of fission products and their subsequent transport and deposition under conditions representative of a severe accident of a Pressurised Water Reactor. The FPT1 test could be divided in the bundle degradation, aerosol, washing and chemistry phases. The objective of this article is the best estimate analysis of the bundle degradation phase. GRS (Germany) best estimate method with the statistic tool SUSA used for uncertainty and sensitivity analysis of calculation results and RELAP/SCDAPSIM code, designed to predict the behaviour of reactor systems during severe accident conditions, was used for the simulation of this test. The RELAP/SCDAPSIM calculation results were compared with the experimental measurements and calculations results, received by employing ICARE module of ASTEC V2 code. The performed analysis demonstrated, that the best estimate method, employing RELAP/SCDAPSIM and SUSA codes, is capable to model main severe accidents phenomena in the fuel bundle during the overheating and melting of reactor core.Copyright © 2012 by ASME