Identification of limiting case between DBA and SBDBA (CL break area sensitivity): A new model for the boron injection system

Atucha-2 is a Siemens-designed Pressurized Heavy Water Reactor (PHWR) reactor under construction in the Republic of Argentina. Its geometrical complexity and peculiarity (e.g. oblique Control Rods, Positive Void coefficient) required a developed and validated complex three dimensional (3D) neutron kinetics (NK) coupled thermal hydraulic (TH) model. Reactor shut-down is obtained by oblique CRs and, during accidental conditions, by an emergency shut-down system (JDJ) injecting a highly concentrated boron solution (boron clouds) in the moderator tank. The boron clouds reconstruction is obtained using a Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) CFX code calculation. A complete Large Break Loss Of Coolant Accident (LBLOCA) calculation implies the application of the RELAP5-3D© system code. Within the framework of the third Agreement “Nucleoelèctrica Argentina-Sociedad Anonima (NA-SA) - University of Pisa/GRNSPG” (Contract, 2009), a new RELAP5-3D control system for the boron injection system was developed and implemented in the validated coupled RELAP5-3D/NESTLE model of the Atucha 2 NPP. The aim of this activity is to find out the limiting case (maximum break area size) for the Peak Cladding Temperature for LOCAs under fixed boundary conditions.