Numerical simulation of solid-particle sedimentation behaviorusing a multi-fluid model coupled with Dem

Numerical simulations of various thermal-hydraulic phenomena with multiphase and multicomponent flows in postulated core disruptive accidents (CDAs) are regarded as particular difficulties in the safety analysis of liquid-metal cooled reactors. In a material relocation phase of CDAs, core debris may settle on the core-support structure and/or in the lower inlet plenum of the reactor vessel and then form the debris bed. In particular, the shape of debris bed is crucial for the relocation of molten core and heat-removal capability of the debris bed as well as re-criticality. In the present study, a hybrid numerical simulation method, which couples the multi-fluid model of the 3D fast reactor safety analysis code SIMMER-IV with the discrete element method (DEM), was applied to analyze sedimentation and bed formation behaviors of core debris. In the present study, 3D simulations were performed for a series of particle sedimentation experiments with gravity driven discharge of solid particles into a quiescent cylindrical water pool. The present simulation predicts the sedimentation behavior of mixed particles with different density or particle size as well as homogeneous particles. The simulation results on bed shapes and particle distribution in the bed agree well with the experimental ones. They demonstrate the fundamental applicability of the present hybrid method to solid-particle sedimentation and bed formation simulations.