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Assessment of the Level of Natural Circulation of VVER-1000 Coolant on the Basis of Experimental Data from the Balakovo NPP

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Given the obligation to safely navigate a full de-energization condition of NPP it is important to study the natural circulation of the coolant in the primary loop of NPP with water-moderated/cooled [pressurized-water] reactors in the event of de-energization of the main circulation pump. At Balakovo NPP No. 3 with 104% load, the power unit underwent complete de-energized along with the main circulation pumps. When switching to natural circulation of the coolant, the temperature in the hot legs dropped from 320 to 300°C. This attests reliable and stable cooling of the core in the condition of natural circulation. A coefficient is proposed for assessing the level of natural circulation. It can be used to determine the flow rate of the circulating coolant on full de-energization of the main circulation pumps. Based on the measurements of the standard information- computational system of a power unit, the residual power release and the coefficient of natural circulation were determined in the entire area of work with the main circulation pumps de-energized for 45 min.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Balakovo NPP, Balakovo, Russia

    D. Yu. Kuznetsov

  2. Saratov Scientific Center, Russian Academy of Sciences, Saratov, Russia

    R. Z. Aminov

  3. Saratov State Technical University, Saratov, Russia

    V. E. Yurin

Authors
  1. D. Yu. Kuznetsov
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  2. R. Z. Aminov
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  3. V. E. Yurin
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to D. Yu. Kuznetsov.

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Translated from Atomnaya Énergiya, Vol. 133, No. 4, pp. 189–193, October, 2022.

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Kuznetsov, D.Y., Aminov, R.Z. & Yurin, V.E. Assessment of the Level of Natural Circulation of VVER-1000 Coolant on the Basis of Experimental Data from the Balakovo NPP. At Energy 133, 191–195 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10512-023-00994-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10512-023-00994-5

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