IIST small break LOCA experiments with passive core cooling injection

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the performance of a passive core cooling system (PCCS) with passive injection during the cold-leg small break loss-of-coolant accidents (SBLOCAs) experiments conducted at the Institute of Nuclear Energy Research (INER) Integral System Test (IIST) facility. Four tests were performed simulating break sizes of 0.2–2% (approximately corresponding to 1.25–4″ breaks for a referenced nuclear power plant) at cold-leg for assessing the PCCS capability in accident management. The key thermal–hydraulic phenomena to core heat removal for PCCS are observed and discussed. The experimental results show that the PCCS has successfully provided a continuous removal of core heat and a long term core cooling can be reached for all cases of SBLOCA.