Nonlinear dynamic verification of the boron injection lances for the Atucha-I Nuclear Power Plant

This work deals with the nonlinear transient dynamic verification of the boron injection lances for the Atucha-1 Pressurized Heavy Water Reactor backup shutdown system. The lances inside the moderator tank constitute the end part of the fast boron injection piping. The current dynamic verification o...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Nuclear engineering and design 2023-03, Vol.403, p.112152, Article 112152
Main Authors: Albanesi, Alejandro E., Rabazzi, Santiago M., Fernández, Ezequiel M., Nervi, Juan E. Ramos, Signorelli, Javier W.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
ATUCHA-1
Backup shutdown system
Boron injection lance
Nonlinear transient dynamic analysis
PHWR reactor
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:This work deals with the nonlinear transient dynamic verification of the boron injection lances for the Atucha-1 Pressurized Heavy Water Reactor backup shutdown system. The lances inside the moderator tank constitute the end part of the fast boron injection piping. The current dynamic verification of the lances is performed in the context of modifications in the piping and valve configuration for Atucha-I Long Term Operation (LTO). It is intended to ensure the structural integrity of the lances in the event of Loss of Coolant Accidents (LOCA) and spurious opening of level control valves (Spurious) scenarios. All boundary conditions have been provided by Nucleoeléctrica Argentina S.A. (NA-SA), and a 3-D numerical model of the lances was built and analyzed with the open-source suite Salome-Meca v2019 using the Code_Aster finite element solver. Results indicate that the displacement of the lances does not produce collisions with other reactor internals and that stresses on the lances and their fastening bolts are low enough to ensure the correct function of the system during LTO period. •Nonlinear transient dynamic verification of the boron injection lances for ATUCHA-1.•A 3D numerical model of the lances was built and analyzed with finite elements solver.•Structural integrity evaluated under loads caused by the LOCA and Spurious scenarios.•All flanges in the finite element model were bonded with bolts with pretension.•Resulting stresses and deformation ensure the correct functioning of the lances.
ISSN:0029-5493
1872-759X
DOI:10.1016/j.nucengdes.2023.112152