Modeling pressure suppression pool hydrodynamics in the ABWR containment

Abstract This paper focuses on the assessment of pressure suppression pool hydrodynamics in the advanced boiling water reactor (ABWR) containment under design-basis, loss-of-coolant accident (LOCA) conditions. The paper presents a mechanistic model for predicting various suppression pool hydrodynamics parameters. A phenomena identification and ranking table (PIRT) applicable to the ABWR containment pool hydrodynamics analysis is used as a basis for the development of the model. The highly ranked phenomena are represented by analytic equations or empirical correlations. The best estimate and several sensitivity calculations are performed for the ABWR containment using this model. Results of the sensitivity calculations are also presented that demonstrate the influence of key model parameters and assumptions on the pool hydrodynamics parameters. A comparison of model predictions to the results of the licensing analyses shows reasonable agreement. Comparison of the results of the proposed model to experimental data shows that the model predicted top vent clearance time, the pool swell height, and the bubble breakthrough elevation are within 10% of the data. The predicted pool surface velocity and the liquid slug thickness are within 30% of the measurements, which is considered adequate given the large uncertainties in the experimental measurements.