| The melt eruption phenomenon could occur during severe accidents at existing light water nuclear reactors. A postulated beyond-design basis accident includes the melting and relocation of the reactor core onto the concrete basemat of containment. The continually heated melt can reach high temperatures and thermally attack the underlying concrete, MCCI. As the melt cools, a crust forms on the upper surface of the melt pool. Melt eruptions occur when gases from the decomposing concrete passes through channels in the crust ejecting melt onto the upper surface of the crust. The impact of melt eruptions on the coolability of the melt is important when estimating the probability and timing of containment failure.;This work focuses on understanding and modeling the melt eruption phenomenon. A model has been developed to predict the amount of melt ejected during melt eruptions. This entrainment model has been verified against an experimental database developed as part of this work. Several phenomena have been identified and modeled which may predict the creation and closure of eruptions sites. The models have been integrated into a MCCI systems code. The new melt eruption model predicted reasonable rates of melt ejection and the number and diameter of eruption sites for a sample simulation of a postulated reactor scale MCCI. Results from the new melt eruption model suggest an ex-vessel core melt under flooded conditions could readily quench. |
