An Influence of Corium Composition Variations on a Spontaneous Steam Explosion in Severe Accidents in a Nuclear Reactor

원자로 노심용융물의 성분비 변화가 증기폭발에 미치는 영향

Recently series of steam explosion experiments have been performed in the TROI facility to identify the influence of corium compositions on the occurrence of a spontaneous steam explosion varying corium melt composition. The compositions of the corium were 0 : 100, 50 : 50, 70 : 30, 80 : 20 and 87 : 13 at weight percent of $UO_2$ to $ZrO_2$, and the mass of the corium was about 10kg. Corium melt at 0 : 100 weight percent (pure zirconia) caused a strong spontaneous steam explosion, and melt at 70 : 30 weight percent(eutectic corium) led to a weak steam spike, while melts at other compositions did not result in spontaneous steam explosions, when they came into contact with 67cm deep water pool at room temperature. It seems that the explosivity of pure zirconia is stronger than that of corium at other compositions and a steam explosion is not likely to occur with corium melts at non-eutectic compositions which are included in mushy zone region.