Title: Experimental facilities for VVER thermal hydraulic research and code validation (COVERS)

Authors: Pavel Kral

Addresses: Department of Thermal Hydraulic Analysis, Nuclear Research Institute, Rez, 250 68 Rez, Czech Republic

Abstract: The main objectives of the COVERS Task Group WP3B |Experimental facilities and code validation| are as follows: description of all major experimental facilities modelling the Thermal Hydraulics (TH) of VVERs; identification of missing test data or experimental capabilities; discussion of shared use of the facilities; discussion of needs for further computer code validation; comparing analysis practice for selected VVER cases; and bringing the final recommendations to the Advisory and End Users| Group. The major achievements of our efforts so far was the issuing of the report |Identification of the VVER Experimental Facilities and Description of the Available and Missing Experimental Capabilities| describing nine integral test facilities and 27 separate effect test facilities of VVER type. Further, the task group members contributed to the COVERS project through several presentations dealing with the code validation in their countries. Lastly, a training lesson, |Experimental Facilities and Code Validation|, was prepared and performed for the students of the universities participating in COVERS.

Keywords: reactor safety; VVER reactors; experimental facility; thermal hydraulics; experiment; integral test facility; separate effect test facility; nuclear power plants; nuclear energy; nuclear safety; computer code validation.

DOI: 10.1504/IJNEST.2007.016664

International Journal of Nuclear Energy Science and Technology, 2007 Vol.3 No.3, pp.245 - 253

Published online: 11 Jan 2008 *

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