Thermal-Hydraulic Analysis of Fuel Blockages Formed During Transient Overpower Accidents in Liquid-Metal Fast Breeder Reactors

Generally, the blockages that may form in the reactor core when molten fuel is ejected into the coolant channels during a transient overpower accident can be divided into two categories. The first type of blockage forms when semi-molten fuel particles hit a wire wrap and freeze on the wire wrap, whereas the second type of blockage forms when solid or semi-solid particles get stuck in the coolant channels. The thermal-hydraulic analysis of these proposed blockages indicates that under certain specific conditions, the blockages can lead to melting of the wire wrap and cladding and also to in-channel voiding. The second type of blockage, if formed as a plug, may remelt before being quenched by subcooled or saturated sodium.