A Coolability Model for Postaccident Nuclear Reactor Debris

A one-dimensional model is developed for boiling heat removal and dryout in particulate debris. The model can be used for predicting the coolability of postaccident debris from a nuclear reactor (either light water or liquid-metal fast breeder). The model includes the effects of both laminar and turbulent flow, two-phase friction, gravity, capillary force, and channels at the top of the debris. The model is applicable to debris on permeable supports with liquid entering the debris bottom or to debris on impermeable plates. In the latter case, the plate can be either adiabatic or cooled on the bottom. The model predicts channel length, the liquid fraction within the debris as a function of elevation, the incipient dryout power, the dry zone thickness as a function of power, and the existence of downward heat removal by boiling (in bottom-cooled debris), all for both uniform and stratified debris.