Methodology for the analysis of mslb and tsv acoustic transients in bwrs

A computational method containing a mathematical model for determining a dynamic load, acoustic in nature, on the steam dryer of a boiling water reactor resulting from a fluid transient selected from a main steam line break event or a turbine stop valve event in a main steam line, wherein the boiling water reactor has four main steam lines, a pressure equalizer, a reactor pressure vessel and a steam dome;

• the method comprising
• developing a network model of the main steam lines including the pressure equalizer, reactor pressure vessel and pipe segments for the main steam lines between junction points,
• calculating an acoustic load generated by the fluid transient propagating in the main steam lines, comprising:
• utilizing a frequency-based acoustic circuit model to determine pressure and velocity of the acoustic waves;
• solving a mass conservation equation for steam volume in the pressure equalizer and the reactor pressure vessel;
• introducing time-dependent behavior in the velocity and pressure of the acoustic waves;
• determining acoustic velocity for the main steam lines;
• and
• utilizing the acoustic velocity as a boundary condition on a Helmholz solution of the steam dryer and surrounding fluid inside the steam dome.