Application of 3D Coupled Code SPARKLE-2 to PWR Anticipated Transient Without Scram

An anticipated transient without scram (ATWS) is an anticipated operational occurrence (AOO) followed by failure of the automatic reactor trip function of the reactor protection system. The failure of the reactor to shut down during the certain AOOs can lead to increase in reactor coolant system (RCS) pressure and decrease in departure from nucleate boiling ratio (DNBR) margin for a pressurized water reactor (PWR). Japanese standard PWRs are equipped with ATWS mitigation system which consists of a diverse mitigation system which is independent from the reactor trip system. The ATWS mitigation system automatically initiates isolation of the main steam line flow and the auxiliary feed water system under condition indicative of an ATWS. Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. (MHI) applies 3D coupled code, SPARKLE-2 [1] [2], to the ATWS evaluation. SPARKLE-2 is a 3D coupled code developed by MHI and consist of the PWR system transient analysis code M-RELAP5, the 3D neutron kinetics code COSMO-K [3] and the 3D core thermal-hydraulics code MIDAC [4]. SPARKLE-2 implements the 3D characteristics such as local moderator feedback and change in 3D power distribution during transient. Thanks to gain from the 3D calculation, the analysis results show that the plant transients are effectively mitigated by the ATWS mitigation system and the RCS pressure and the minimum DNBR meet the safety criteria. These results also show that operational margins are increased, which enables more flexible design of the reload core.