I. Introduction
The study of severe nuclear accidents is a major research topic at Commissariat à l”Énergie Atomique (CEA) (French atomic energy agency). In this scope, the PLINIUS experimental platform situated in Cadarache studies the behavior of corium (melt fuel-structure mixture), through several experimental setups [1]. The tests performed on this facility provide crucial data and validation for the models elaborated at CEA. Among the test facilities of PLINIUS, the KROTOS facility studies the corium–water interaction [2], through the release of corium into a water tank [3], [4] (see Fig. 1). It includes high-frequency X-ray imaging through the whole process, which allows a worldwide unique real-time visualization of the reaction [5] (see Fig. 2).
Schematic of the KROTOS setup.
High-energy X-ray visualization of the corium–water interaction on the KROTOS facility [5].