A 3D numerical study on the breakup and fragmentation of corium jet in liquid sodium pool following a severe accident in SFR
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: Understanding the fragmentation of the corium jet which is molten nuclear fuel in liquid sodium during a severe accident is crucial for the safety analysis of Sodium cooled Fast Reactors (SFR) safety analysis. This study numerically investigates the breakup and fragmentation of mixed oxide (MOX) fuel jet in the liquid sodium using three dimensional simulations. Volume of Fluid method coupled with adaptive mesh refinement is adopted in the present study for hydrodynamic fragmentation. A surface solidification model is also harnessed to estimate the final size distribution of the fragments after thermal fragmentation. The computational model is first validated with an MFCI experiment of molten alumina poured in liquid sodium from published literature. Further, breakup of MOX jet in liquid sodium at different jet breakup regimes was analysed and the size distribution of fragments generated was studied. The results show that the mass median diameter of the fragments due to thermal effects is about one order of magnitude smaller than that from hydrodynamic effects, but the number of fragments is about two orders of magnitude higher. This study also estimates the increase in surface area after corium fragmentation in liquid sodium. The particle size distribution is an important factor which influences the coolability of degraded core in liquid sodium pool.
Source: Progress in Nuclear Energy
Authors: M. Chandra Kumar, A. Jasmin Sudha
Language: English
Subfield: Aerospace Engineering
Field: Engineering
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
Estimated APC paid: $2,930
OpenAlex ID: W7130947741