Results of the Quench-L1, Disco-L1 and Comet-L1 experiments performed within the LACOMERA project at the Forschungszentrum Karlsruhe
C. Caroli, D. Plassard, M. Cranga et al,
13th International Conference on Nuclear Engineering (ICONE-13), Beijing, Chine, 16-20 mai 2005,
Rapport IRSN-DSR/66
The LACOMERA project at the Forschungszentrum Karlsruhe, Germany is a 3 year action within the 5th Framework Programme of the EU which started in September 2002. Overall objective of the project is to offer research institutions from the EU member countries and associated states access to four large scale experimental facilities QUENCH, LIVE, DISCO, and COMET which can be used to investigate core melt scenarios from the beginning of core degradation to melt formation and relocation in the vessel, possible melt dispersion to the reactor cavity, and finally corium concrete interaction and corium coolability in the reactor cavity. The paper summarises the main results obtained in the following experiments performed up to now:
QUENCH-L1: Air ingression impact on core degradation. The test has provided unique data for the investigation of air ingress phenomenology in conditions as representative as possible of the reactor case regarding the source term.
DISCO-L1: Thermal hydraulic behaviour of the corium melt dispersion neglecting the chemical effects such as hydrogen generation and combustion.
COMET-L1: Long-term 2D concrete ablation in siliceous concrete cavity at intermediate decay heat power level with a top flooding phase after a phase of dry concrete erosion.