A containment analysis for SBLOCA in the refurbished Wolsong-1 Nuclear Power Plant

A small break leading to a loss of coolant accident (SBLOCA), being one of the topic accidents in the nuclear plant diagnosis in recent years, has been analysed and evaluated for the refurbished Wolsong-1 Nuclear Power Plant (NPP). The Industry Standard Toolset (IST) codes developed by CANDU (Canadian Deuterium Uranium reactor) Owners Group and updated models including design change parameters are applied newly to the event analyses. The GOTHIC code has been used for the containment thermal-hydraulic analysis of Wolsong-1. Also, the SMART-IST code fitted in the Iodine Chemistry (IMOD-2) model has been used to predict nuclide behavior within the containment considering various aspects. The IMOD-2 was incorporated into SMART-IST as a module dealing with chemical transformations and mass transfer of iodine species in containment. IMOD-2 model is very sensitive to paint and chemicals. The parametric studies for the IMOD-2 model are performed to decide the analysis value set. The iodine release amount increases as the paint thickness increases. But, the iodine release amount increases as the water pH (dousing and primary heat transport (PHT)) decreases. The developed containment analysis methodology and the results of SBLOCA without Emergency Coolant Injection (ECI) are presented herein. Under the most heat-up conditions, the radionuclide release from the failed fuel into the containment and subsequently to the environment is such that the radioactive doses to the public are below the acceptable limits.

► The CANDU safety analysis has been accomplished for the refurbished Wolsong-1 NPP. ► GOTHIC and SMART-IST codes and new methodology are used for the containment analysis. ► The parametric studies for Iodine Chemistry (IMOD-2) model are performed. ► And, IMOD-2 model is very sensitive to paint thickness and dousing water pH. ► The radioactive doses to the public in SBLOCA event are far below the acceptable limits.