Vulcano: a dedicated R and D program to master corium recuperation for future reactors

摘要

In the field of Severe Accident studies for future Nuclear Power Plants, the CEA (Commissariat a l'Energie Atomique) has launched an important program operating with UO(sub 2) materials. General objectives cover the qualification of industrial core-catcher concepts as well as the improvement of the understanding of corium behaviour inside the pressure vessel. After a presentation of the general scope of the project, the paper focuses on the first experimental phase (VULCANO E-30) which deals with major questions of core-catcher concepts based on spreading and flooding principles. (authors). 3 refs., 6 figs. (Atomindex citation 27:056820)