Experimental investigation on debris bed formation from metallic melt coolant interactions

Motivated by risk quantification of severe core meltdown accidents which may occur light water reactors, an extensive DEFOR (DEbris FORmation) test series with various molten oxidic materials was conducted previously at Royal Institute of Technology to investigate the characteristics of debris beds formed from oxidic melt-water interactions, which are important to the coolability of debris beds and thus the retention of core melt. Yet, little attention has been paid to metallic melt which exist in the core melt. The present study is intended to fill in the knowledge gap, i.e., to characterize metallic melt-water interactions when a melt jet falls into a deep water pool. Nine DEFOR-M tests are carried out to clarify the effects of melt jet diameter, free fall height and water pool depth on metallic debris formation characteristics. Molten tin of 20 kg is employed as the simulant of metallic melt. A melt sensor and a mass sensor are installed to detect the discharging period of coherent jet and the mass accumulation of debris bed, respectively. A high-speed camera is applied to record the process of jet breakup, debris fragmentation and solidification, and debris bed formation. The experimental results show that the water pool depth has a significant influence on steam explosion and debris bed formation characteristics. Moreover, the jet breakup length is sensitive to jet diameter and free fall height. Finally, the features of metallic debris beds are compared with those of oxidic ones in respects of debris bed's configuration and porosity, particles' morphology and size distribution.

Automated summary

A series of experiments was conducted to investigate the characteristics of metallic melt-water interactions. The results showed that water pool depth significantly influenced steam explosion and debris bed formation characteristics, and jet breakup length was sensitive to jet diameter and free fall height. Additionally, the features of metallic debris beds were compared with those of oxidic ones in terms of configuration, porosity, and particle morphology and size distribution.