Performances of the ITER Pressure Suppression System during unstable steam condensation regimes

Abstract The paper deals with the qualification of the main safety system of the nuclear fusion reactor ITER: the Vacuum Vessel Pressure Suppression System. This safety system manages the Loss of Coolant Accident, that could occur in the Vacuum Vessel, avoiding a significant increase of the internal pressure that could breach the primary confinement barrier. Steam condensation occurs at sub-atmospheric pressure. This condition is original respect the usual applications of steam direct condensation in nuclear fission reactors. An extensive experimental research program, funded by ITER Organization, on reduced scale experimental rigs (scale 1/22 and 1/10) have been carried out at the University of Pisa. Unstable condensation regimes occurred during some tests at about 500 g s −1 of steam mass flow rate (10% of the maximum steam mass flow rate foreseen for the relevant accidental scenarios). In these conditions, high intensity vibrations of the whole experimental rig occurred. These events can be classified as ‘Chugging’ or Condensation Induced Water Hammer. The performed tests have been analysed elaborating the images of the video-cameras located in the pool and comparing the steam jet shape with the acceleration values recorded by an accelerometer mounted on the sparger structure. These elaborations permitted to evaluate the dynamic of bubble collapse, the volume of the developed external bubbles, the collapse frequency as function of thermal-hydraulic parameters. Moreover, the paper emphasizes the beneficial effects of non-condensable gases (NCGs) on the unstable condensation regimes. In fact, the NCG inhibits the occurrences of Water Hammer inside the sparger and eliminates the thermal stratification inside the water pool increasing the turbulence.