The In-Pile Local Blockage Experiments Mol 7C/6 and 7 - Results and preliminary interpretation

The aim of the Mol-7C in-pile local blockage experiments is to ascertain the consequences of local cooling disturbances in fuel subassemblies of liquid-metal fast breeder reactors. The experiments are carried out in the BR2 reactor at Mol/Belgium within the framework of a joint program of Kernforschungszentrum Karlsruhe and Studiecentrum voor Kernenergie/ Centre d'Etude de l'Energie Nucléaire Mol. The last two experiments, Mol-7C/6 and 7, performed with the support of the Joint Research Centre Ispra in June 1988 and June 1989, respectively, are dealt with. The particular objective of these two tests is to investigate the consequences of local faults at high burnup and of blockages having contact with the subassembly wrapper tube. The test sections, the performance of the tests, and the results obtained are described. A preliminary interpretation is presented.