Abstract :
Thelast20yearsofresearchonsevereaccidentsafetyforlightwaterreactors(LWRs)hasresolvedanumberofissues.However,theissueofmelt/debriscoolabilityisstillunresolved.Atstakeisthestabilizationandterminationofasevereaccident,ifeveritwouldoccur.Thestabilizationandterminationcanbeestablishedonlythroughthecoolabilityofthemeltortheparticulatedebris,whicharefoundin-vessel,orex-vessel,dependingupontheextentoftheprogressionofapostulatedaccident.
Thispaperwillreviewthestateoftheartofcoolabilityduringasevereaccidentforthecurrentlightwaterreactors(LWRs).Itwillalsoreviewwhethertheaccidentmanagementactionswillbeeffectiveinterminatingapostulatedsevereaccident.TheattentionpaidtothestabilizationandcoolabilityinfutureLWRswillbediscussedandthedesignsolutionswillbeevaluated.
