Potential Benefits of the New Westinghouse LOCA Mass and Energy Release Methodology: Estimated Reduction in the Initial Ice Mass Required for an Ice Condenser Containment

Westinghouse has developed a new loss of coolant accident (LOCA) mass and energy (M&E) release methodology using the WCOBRA/TRAC (WC/T) and GOTHIC computer codes. The new method replaces the deterministic post-blowdown steam generator and metal energy release models with a mechanistic calculation that results in significantly lower steam generator and metal energy release rates. As shown in Reference 1, these lower energy release rates result in a significantly lower post-blowdown containment pressure and temperature for the large dry containment design. This paper estimates the impact of the lower calculated post-blowdown energy release rates on the initial ice mass required to be loaded into an ice condenser containment.