Analysis of TROI-13 Steam Explosion Experiment

The prediction of steam explosion inducing loads in nuclear power plants must be based on results of experimental research programmes and on simulations using validated fuel-coolant interaction codes. In this work, the TROI-13 steam explosion experiment was analysed with the fuel-coolant interaction MC3D computer code. The TROI-13 experiment is one of several experiments performed in the TROI research program and resulted in a spontaneous steam explosion using corium melt. First, the TROI-13 premixing simulations were performed to determine the initial conditions for the steam explosion simulations and to evaluate the melt droplets hydrodynamic fragmentation model. Next, a number of steam explosion simulations were performed, varying the steam explosion triggering position and the melt droplets mass participating in the steam explosion. The simulation results revealed that there is an important influence of the participating melt droplets mass on the calculated pressure loads, whereas the influence of the steam explosion triggering position on the steam explosion development was less expressive.