Facilities

In order to comply with experimental device design requirements, different devices were developped, tested and set up on CARAIDAS:

Determination of the vaporization rate according to the composition and the thermodynamic conditions of the corium (with FP simulants) was the aim of the COLIMA (COrium LIquid and MAterials) experiments.

This emission has an impact on the iodine chemistry (AgI) and on the behavior of aerosols in the reactor primary circuit and in the containment. The presence of control rod material influences the source term potentially present in a PWR containment and likely to in the atmosphere.

FOREVER program at KTH was concerned with the vessel integrity under the molten corium attack in the reactor lower plenum during a severe accident.

SOURCE TERM is an international research programme carried out by IRSN and CEA (Commissariat à l’Energie Atomique) with the support of Electricité de France, the European Commission, the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission (US), GDF/ SUEZ/ Tractebel (Belgium), Atomic Energy Canada Limited (Canada),

The influence of containment sprays on atmosphere behaviour is being investigated both experimentally and theoretically. Experiments are being performed on the TOSQAN and MISTRA experimental facilities.

In case of a hypothetical severe accident in a nuclear LWR (light water reactor), the high radiation fields reached in the reactor containment building due to the release of fission products from the reactor core could induce air radiolysis.

Since the core meltdown accident in the Three Mile Island reactor in 1979, a series of experimental safety research programmes has been conducted by a number of international research organisations, including the IRSN, which manages the European SARNET network.

RECI is a 2½ year experimental programme that was brought to completion as of October 2004.