Material corrosion in a reactor containment sump following a loss-of-coolant accident

• Chemical effects that pertains to GSI-191 are reviewed.
• Corrosion of the various materials in the containment of a PWR are discussed.
• Research gaps related to pressure drop due to chemical effects are identified.

The present study conducts a critical review of relevant research that pertains to Generic Safety Issue 191 (GSI-191) and the chemistry and corrosion behavior of the various materials present in the containment sump of a pressurized water reactor (PWR). Thermodynamic simulations, integrated tests, and benchtop tests have determined the structure of the potential precipitates that may clog the sump strainer and cause a failure of the emergency core cooling system (ECCS). Based on this research, it was determined that the available research has been insufficient in terms of simulating the transient temperature behavior in the containment sump in the post loss-of-coolant environment. Research gaps are identified, and recommendations for future research are presented.