A Review on Ex-Vessel Melt Retention Measures Adopted in Light Water Reactors

Yidan Yuan, Xiaodong Huo, Wei Li (), Qiang Guo, Li Zhang, Yong Guo and Jie Pei
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Yidan Yuan: CNNC Key Laboratory for Severe Accident Research in Nuclear Power Safety, China Nuclear Power Engineering Co., Ltd., 117 West 3rd Ring Road, Beijing 100840, China
Xiaodong Huo: CNNC Key Laboratory for Severe Accident Research in Nuclear Power Safety, China Nuclear Power Engineering Co., Ltd., 117 West 3rd Ring Road, Beijing 100840, China
Wei Li: CNNC Key Laboratory for Severe Accident Research in Nuclear Power Safety, China Nuclear Power Engineering Co., Ltd., 117 West 3rd Ring Road, Beijing 100840, China
Qiang Guo: CNNC Key Laboratory for Severe Accident Research in Nuclear Power Safety, China Nuclear Power Engineering Co., Ltd., 117 West 3rd Ring Road, Beijing 100840, China
Li Zhang: CNNC Key Laboratory for Severe Accident Research in Nuclear Power Safety, China Nuclear Power Engineering Co., Ltd., 117 West 3rd Ring Road, Beijing 100840, China
Yong Guo: CNNC Key Laboratory for Severe Accident Research in Nuclear Power Safety, China Nuclear Power Engineering Co., Ltd., 117 West 3rd Ring Road, Beijing 100840, China
Jie Pei: CNNC Key Laboratory for Severe Accident Research in Nuclear Power Safety, China Nuclear Power Engineering Co., Ltd., 117 West 3rd Ring Road, Beijing 100840, China

Energies, 2024, vol. 17, issue 24, 1-18

Abstract: As the cornerstone of severe accident management strategy, either in-vessel or ex-vessel retention of core melt (IVR or EVR) plays a pivotal role in the stabilization and termination of a severe accident and ultimately secures the safety goal of “Practical elimination of large radioactive release” for light water reactors. In contrast to the IVR measures that are more or less identical in reactor designs, the EVR measures are quite different from design to design. This study intended to give a critical review on the EVR measures adopted in the reactor designs of VVER-1000, EPR, ESBWR, EU-APR1400 and APWR. The review study began with a general description of the existing EVR measures, including their principles, operational procedures and research efforts. We then focused our discussions on the pros and cons of each EVR measure through the comparisons with the IVR and with the others in terms of simplicity, reliability and economy. We finally tried to identify the remaining issues and uncertainties in the qualification of the EVR measures, based on which potential design improvements and future research needs were recommended.

Keywords: severe accident; ex-vessel melt retention; core catcher (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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