Model development for the calculation of corium-ceramic interaction during severe accidents in LWRs

Models have been developed for the calculation of ceramic ablation by cerium melts. Ceramic may be dissolved by direct contact with oxidic cerium, below the melting temperature of the ceramic. This dissolution is governed by physicochemical processes and thermalhydraulics in the cerium layer. The model will be described and application examples will be given in the case for which the evolution of the power dissipated in the cerium is impose. This is the case of interest for the design of core-catchers based on the use of refractory ceramics. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.