Natural circulation experiments at the ISB-VVER Integral Test Facility and Calculations using the Thermal-Hydraulic Code ATHLET

In 1995 at the integral test facility ISB-VVER in Elektrogorsk near Moscow natural circulation experiments were performed, which were scientifically accompanied by the Forschungszentrum Rossendorf. These experiments were the first of this kind at a test facility, which models VVER-1000 thermal-hydraulics. Using the code ATHLET which is being developed by "Gesellschaft für Anlagen- und Reaktorsicherheit mbH", pre- and post-test calculations were done to determine the thermal-hydraulic events to be expected and to define and tune the boundary conditions of the test. The conditions found for natural circulation instabilities and cold leg loop seal clearing could be confirmed by the tests. The main thermal-hydraulic phenomena were identified and compared with the results gained during similar experiments on VVER-440 test facilities.