Development of a three-dimensional CDA analysis code; SIMMER-IV, and its first application to reactor case

Yamano, Hidemasa   ; Fujita, Satoshi; Tobita, Yoshiharu; Sato, Ikken ; Niwa, Hajime

For the transition phase analysis of core disruptive accidents, the development of a three-dimensional reactor safety analysis code, SIMMER-IV, has been carried out based on the technology of the two-dimensional SIMMER-III code. The world first application of SIMMER-IV to a small-sized sodium-cooled fast reactor was also attempted to clarify event progression in the early stage of the transition phase. This SIMMER-IV calculation was compared to the two-dimensional case calculated by SIMMER-III, neglecting the presence of control rod guide tubes. The present analysis with the three-dimensional representation suggested that the conventional scenario leading to rather early high-mobility fuel-pool formation is unrealistic and the degraded core tends to keep low mobility in the early stage of transition phase.