Application of TRACE and CFD in the Spent Fuel Pool of Chinshan Nuclear Power Plant

Abstract

In the nuclear power plant (NPP) safety, the safety analysis of the NPP is very important work. In Fukushima NPP event, due to the earthquake, the cooling system of the spent fuel pool failed and the safety issue of the spent fuel pool generated. After Fukushima NPP event, INER (Institute of Nuclear Energy Research, Atomic Energy Council, R.O.C.) performed the safety analysis of the spent fuel pool for Chinshan NPP which also assumed the cooling system of the spent fuel pool failed. The geometry of the Chinshan NPP spent fuel pool is 12.17 m × 7.87 m × 11.61 m and the initial condition is 60 ¢J / 1.013 × 105 Pa. In general, the NPP safety analysis is performed by the thermal hydraulic codes. The advanced thermal hydraulic code named TRACE for the NPP safety analysis is developing by U.S. NRC. Therefore, the safety analysis of the spent fuel pool for Chinshan NPP is performed by TRACE. Besides, this safety analysis is also performed by CFD. The analysis result of TRACE and CFD are similar. The results show that the uncovered of the fuels occur in 2.7 days and the metal-water reaction of the fuels occur in 3.5 days after the cooling system failed.