Corium Behaviour and the Lower Head Thermal Response after a Core Meltdown
Excerpt from summary.
Thermal analysis showed that the RPV melt-through can be expected in one or two hours after the large core meltdown if no heat was removed from the outside vessel surface. Since corium is at high temperature, thermal radiation should also be modelled during the late in-vessel phase of a severe accident. The lower core support plate is the most exposed component to the radiative heat flux coming from the relocated material. In the case of the support plate failure, large portions of vessel internals would fall down into the lower head which would result in increased mechanical loading of the RPV wall and increased probability of the vessel failure.
More to follow.
Corium - how fine a dust? How hot? Half life? Thanks for the posts - interesting stuff...