Subscale Steam Tests of Vapor Supression Pool Mixing and Circulation with Application to the Shoreham Nuclear Power Station

Abstract

This report addresses the temperature distribution induced within a suppression pool by a steam discharge. The problem is first examined theoretically to identify the dominant zones and to estimate circulation and mixing occurring within each zone. This analysis is then used to justify physical model tests using a 1/17 Froude scale model employing an actual steam source. Results complement earlier sub-scale tests at MIT performed by Soliva (1980) using hot water in place of steam. Experiments were performed to test sensitivity to the number of quencher ports,the fractional area of basin flow resistance, the initial water depth and the quencher orientation and location within the pool. Model results can be used to help understand the physical processes underlying pool mixing and circulation and to help extrapolate prototype temperature measurements from one site to another.