RELAP5-3D Three-Dimensional Analysis Based on PHÉNIX Dissymmetric Transient Test

Abstract

Before the final shutdown of the PHÉNIX fast reactor, the CEA carried out a final set of experimental tests to gather data and additional knowledge on relevant sodium fast reactors (SFR) operation and safety aspects. One of these experiments conducted was the dissymmetrical configuration test, which was selected as benchmark transient within the H2020 SESAME project. ENEA and Sapienza University of Rome are participating in the benchmark using the RELAP5-3D© code. The thermal hydraulic analysis focuses on adequate core cooling prediction in accidental scenario. With the goal of investigating asymmetric thermal hydraulic behavior inside of the reactor pool, two different nodalization approaches have been applied for the RELAP5-3D model, which adopt the same geometrical scheme for the primary flow path, with the exception of the hot and cold pools and the core bypass. The first scheme has been developed using vertical parallel pipes with cross junctions for the hot and cold pools and an equivalent pipe to reproduce the core bypass. The second model includes a multidimensional (MULTID) component, which simulates the pools and provides a detailed nodalization of the core bypass. This study aims at assessing whether the two modeling approaches are equally capable to predict the asymmetrical temperature evolution over the test, caused by the azimuthal asymmetry of the boundary conditions. Blind calculation results are presented and discussed. The paper will be a first step toward the RELAP5-3D code assessment against the experimental results collected as part of the PHÉNIX dissymmetric test.