[3L01-04] Fukushima NPPs Accident

[3L04] Temperature change due to oxidative cooling under the fuel rod exposure in Fukushima One No.1 Reactor

Recursive calculation of temperature using a cylinder model

*Kiyoshi Yoneyama¹, Kazuo Watanabe², Kouji Kihara³, Kouhei Kawano (1. H.O.Yoneyama, 2. WNR-Cx Watanabe Lab., 3. Tokyo Gas Co.Ltd.)

Keywords:Radiative cooling (heat transfer), Fukushima One No.1 Reactor, Numerical analysis, Zirconium oxidative reaction, Cylinder model

The No.1 reactor of Fuku-Ichi experienced a hydrogen gas explosion on 3/12/2011, resulting in a severe nuclear catastrophe. It was due to the same cause as No. 3 reactor, in which hydrogen gas was produced from zirconium cover of the fuel rod by oxidation reaction. However, the time of gas production remains uncertain because of the absence of temperature calculation on the reactor core. The authors set up a model approximating the fuel core by 200 consecutive cylinders.