Experimental Thermophysical Studies in Validation of the Operability of Passive Safety Systems for Next-Generation VVER

Abstract

The main results of experimental validation of the operability of passive core cooling systems of nextgeneration VVER are presented. It is shown that the residual heat release can be removed in 24 h on account of the operation of the second-stage water-storage system and the passive heat-removal system. As part of the validation of VVER-TOI passive safety systems the thermophysical properties of boric acid (density and viscosity) were measured experimentally with parameters characteristic for a reactor emergency. Empirical relations satisfactorily describing the experimental data are obtained.