Reliability of core exit thermocouple (CET) for accident management action during SBLOCA and abnormal transient tests at ROSA/LSTF

Suzuki, Mitsuhiro; Nakamura, Hideo  

Presented are experiment results on performance of core exit thermocouple (CET) and applicability to PWR accident management (AM) during 12 tests of small-break loss-of-coolant accident (SBLOCA) and abnormal transient conducted at the Large Scale Test Facility (LSTF) of Japan Atomic Energy Agency, which is the largest PWR simulator with full-height and 1/48 volume scaling. General CET performances are derived including (1) CETs are capable in most cases to detect core overheating with delay of time and temperature increase from core heat-up, (2) one of the reasons of this delay is attributed to cooling effects of structural materials at the core exit and peripheral region, (3) CETs were incapable to detect core overheating in a very small break under steam generator depressurization action as well as a 10% cold leg break due to significant water fall-back from hot legs, and (4) an alternative indication by CET superheat is necessary in extremely high and low pressure conditions.