Overview on the EAGLE experimental program aiming at resolution of the re-criticality issue for the fast reactors

Konishi, Kensuke ; Kubo, Shigenobu* ; Koyama, Kazuya*; Kamiyama, Kenji  ; Toyooka, Junichi  ; Sato, Ikken ; Kotake, Shoji*; Vurim, A. D.*; Zuyev, V.*; Pakhnits, A. V.*; Gaidaichuk, V. A.*; Kolodeshnikov, A.*; Vassiliev, Y. S.*

In the EAGLE program, several in-pile and out-of-pile tests have been conducted by August 2006, under a co-operation between JAEA and NNC/RK. The main objectives of these tests are; (1) to demonstrate effectiveness of special design concepts to eliminate the re-criticality issue in the course of CDAs of SFRs, and (2) to acquire basic information on early-phase relocation of molten-core materials toward cold regions surrounding the core, which would be applicable to various core design concepts. As the final step of this program, integral in-pile tests simulating realistic accident conditions were conducted. Geometry of the test apparatus adopted in these tests is corresponding to a typical special design concept equipped with a "discharge duct" within each fuel sub-assembly. In these tests, fuel-steel mixture pool was successfully realized and discharge of the pool materials through the duct was observed.