THERMAL-HYDRAULIC ANALYSIS OF IRT-4M IN REACTIVITY INSERTION ACCIDENT AT VR-1 REACTOR

Abstract

The paper deals with thermal-hydraulic analysis during reactivity insertion accident, i.e. a step increase of nuclear system reactivity by 0.7 eff, at VR-1 Reactor. The reactor utilizes IRT-4M type of fuel assemblies, and even though these fuel assemblies are designed for an operation at the high-power research reactors, they might be also used for zero-power reactors. The thermal-hydraulic analyses must take into account several specific assumptions that are derived from VR-1 reactor specifications. The reactor does not require a forced water flow for a fuel cooling, the core is placed in an open vessel with atmospheric pressure, and amount of coolant water in the vessel is sufficient for providing the inlet water at room temperature for the whole event. Coolant circulation is expected to be formed only by natural convection.