The Contribution of International Standard Problem Activities to Containment Code Validation

Abstract

International Standard Problems have been performed in the field of containment thermohydraulics under the umbrella of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and/or of the Commission of the European Communities (CEC). A standard problem may be considered as a kind of analytic benchmark activity with the background of an experimental evidence. 8 standard problems were allocated to containment questions. More than 25 codes were involved in these activities over the last 10 years. The experiments serving as a comparative basis for the analyses cover a wide range of important phenomena expected inside large PWR dry containments within or beyond the design basis accident concept. The specifications as well as the results of standard problem activities are well documented and may also serve future code validation activities. Some illustrations are provided showing deviations between some pretest predictions and the actually measured experimental parameters. Some more standard problems in this area are presently in progress.