Application of a hygrothermal model to predict temperature and humidity development in the VeRCoRs benchmark case

This study presents a multiphysics model developed to predict the internal temperature and moisture development in a concrete reactor containment at an early age. The work is a part of the benchmark study, VeRCoR, provided by EDF. The model was applied on an experimental reactor containment mock-up erected in the vicinity of Paris. The 3D geometry was provided from VeRCoRs. The model includes concrete hydration, heat release, chemical moisture binding, and a moisture transport model with relative humidity as a driving potential. Results from the simulation was compared with temperature sensors located in the mock-up. The model was found to be able to predict the temperature development at early age. There was no possibility to compare the relative humidity because of lack of humidity sensors.