Benchmark exercises on the emergency venting of vessels

Abstract The benchmark exercises concentrated on the hydrodynamic aspects of venting of vessels containing fluids under high pressure as well as the problems associated with the theoretical modelling of such processes with four types of code. The key features of these codes are illustrated and the parameters which characterize the emergency relief of the reactor vessel are identified. The experiments analysed in the benchmark were carried out at different plants in order to provide information about the dependence of the depressurization process on the size of the vessel, on the type of vent installed and on the initial conditions. Six of these venting examples are analysed together with the data calculated by the relevant codes.