Assessing the Phebus FPT-1 experiment: Insights from MELCOR 2.2 and ASYST codes

Abstract

Phebus is an experimental facility that represents a scaled-down version of the French 900 MWe pressurized water reactor (PWR) with a ratio of 1/5000. In order to study phenomena occurring during severe accidents in light water reactors, five experiments (FPT-0 to FPT-4) were performed under different fuel and cooling conditions. This paper provides a comprehensive description of the Phebus FPT-1 experiment, MELCOR and ASYST computer codes, discusses the modelling approaches employed and compares the calculated results with the experimental data. To quantitatively assess the results, the Figure of Merits of selected parameters were calculated for both computer codes using ACAP software.Phebus is an experimental facility that represents a scaled-down version of the French 900 MWe pressurized water reactor (PWR) with a ratio of 1/5000. In order to study phenomena occurring during severe accidents in light water reactors, five experiments (FPT-0 to FPT-4) were performed under different fuel and cooling conditions. This paper provides a comprehensive description of the Phebus FPT-1 experiment, MELCOR and ASYST computer codes, discusses the modelling approaches employed and compares the calculated results with the experimental data. To quantitatively assess the results, the Figure of Merits of selected parameters were calculated for both computer codes using ACAP software.