Evaluation of Hydrogen Production Using CATHENA-ELOCA During a LOCA/LOECC Scenario

Abstract

A 20% RIH break with loss of ECC and boiler crash cooldown is simulated with CATHENA-ELOCA and CATHENA to assess the fuel and pressure tube temperatures as well as the hydrogen production. Six representative channels are selected to represent six power groups of channels for each core pass. The maximum temperature predicted (1446.ºC for the central element sheath of bundle 6 in channel O6 of the broken pass – 5 g/s) is largely lower than those shown in the 2002 Gentilly-2 Safety Report. The total amount of predicted hydrogen produced is also much lower than the values shown in the 2002 Gentilly-2 Safety Report.