On heat transfer characteristics of real and simulant melt pool experiments Original Research Article

This paper presents results of analytical studies on natural convection heat transfer in scaled and/or simulant melt pool experiments related to the pressurized water reactor in-vessel melt retention issue. Specific reactor-scale effects of a large decay-heated core melt pool in the reactor pressure vessel lower plenum are first reviewed, and then the current analytical capability of describing the relevant physical processes in prototypical situations is examined. Experiments and experimental approaches are analyzed by focusing on their ability to represent prototypical situations. Calculations are performed to assess the significance of some selected effects, including variations in melt properties, pool geometry and heating conditions. In the present analysis, Rayleigh numbers are limited to 1012, where uncertainties in turbulence modelling do not override other uncertainties. Calculations are performed to explore limitations of using side wall heating and direct electrical heating. The need for further experimental and analytical efforts is also discussed.