The evaluation of RCS depressurization to prevent core melting in pressure tube reactors (CANDU-type)

Thus, the paper makes a review of author's article [Mehedinteanu, S., 2001. An application of the new way to prevent core melting in pressure tube reactors (CANDU-type). Annals of Nuclear Energy 28, 79-88] and describes a new method to prevent the core melting in the pressure tube reactors. The method concerns the use of a safety depressurization of the pressurizer (PDS) by means of a new safety valve block located on the line to the degasser-condenser (DC) and subsequent “re-pumping” of the water as collected in the DC, by the pressure difference intrinsically created, back to RCS through new lines connected with the emergency core cooling system (ECCS) lines. The result of the calculation shows a full prevention of the core melting in the pressure tube reactor (CANDU-type) and this conclusion could also be extended to LWR.