Scaling Analysis of the Pressurizer Surge Line in Nuclear Plant Integral Test Facilities

Abstract

During small break loss of coolant accident (SBLOCA) of AP1000 nuclear plant, the behavior of pressurizer surge line has an important effect on the operation of ADS valves and the initial injection of IRWST, which may happen at a time when the reactor core reaches its minimum inventory. Therefore, scaling analysis of the PRZ surge line in nuclear plant integral test facilities is important. Four scaling criteria of surge line are developed, which respectively focus on two-phase flow pattern transitions, counter-current flow limitation (CCFL) behavior, periodic draining and filling and maintaining system inventory. The relationship between the four scaling criteria is discussed and comparative analysis of various scaling results is performed for different length scale ratios of test facilities. The results show that CCFL phenomenon and periodic draining and filling behavior are relatively more important processes and the surge line diameter ratios obtained by the two processes’ scaling criteria are close to each other. Thus, an optimal scaling analysis considering both CCFL phenomenon and periodic draining and filling process of PRZ surge line is given, which is used to provide a practical reference to choose appropriate scale of the surge line for the ACME (Advanced Core-cooling Mechanism Experiment) test facility now being built in China.