An Overall Investigation of Break Simulators for LOCA Scenarios in Integral Effect Tests

Various studies on the critical flow models for sub-cooled and/or saturated water were reviewed, especially on Fauske, Moody, and Henry for basic theoretical models; Zaloudek for insight into physical phenomena for a critical flow in an orifice type flow path; Sozzi & Sutherland for a critical flow test of saturated and sub-cooled water at high pressure for orifice and nozzles; and a Marviken test on a full-scale critical flow test. In addition, critical flow tests of sub-cooled water for the break simulators in integral effect test (IET) facilities were also investigated, and a hybrid concept using Moody's and Fauske's models was considered by the authors. In the comparison of the models for the selected test data, discussions of the effect of the diameters, predictions of the critical flow models, and design aspects of break simulator for SBLOCA scenarios in the IET facilities were presented. In the effect of diameter on the critical flow rate with respect to all dimensional scales, it was concluded that the effect of diameter was found irrespective of diameter sizes. In addition, the diameter effect on slip ratio affecting the critical flow rate was suggested. From a comparison of the critical flow models and selected test data, the Henry-Fauske model of the MARS-KS code was found to be the best model predicting the critical flow rate for the selected test data under study.