Experimental Investigation of Coolant Mixing in the RPV of a PWR During Natural Circulation Conditions

2004 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Kliem ◽  
T. Hoehne ◽  
H.-M. Prasser ◽  
U. Rohde ◽  
F.-P. Weiss
Keyword(s):  
Flow Rate ◽  
Volume Flow Rate ◽  
Natural Circulation ◽  
Volume Flow ◽  
Density Difference ◽  
Test Facility ◽  
Primary Circuit ◽  
Parameter Study ◽  
Phase Flow ◽  
The Core

Partial depletion of the primary circuit during a hypothetical small break loss of coolant accident can lead to the interruption of one-phase flow natural circulation. In this case, the decay heat is removed from the core in the reflux-condenser mode. For the scenario of a hot leg side leak and hot leg safety injection thermal hydraulics analyses using the system code ATHLET showed, that weakly borated condensate can accumulate in particular in the pump loop seal of those two loops, which do not receive safety injection. According to these ATHLET-calculations, one-phase flow is maintained in the remaining two loops at high residual heat conditions because of the entrainment of safety injection coolant into the steam generators. After refilling of the primary circuit, natural circulation in the two stagnant loops simultaneously re-establishes and the de-borated slugs are shifted towards the reactor pressure vessel (RPV). Mixing in the downcomer and the lower plenum is an important phenomenon mitigating the reactivity insertion into the core in this postulated scenario. Therefore, mixing of the de-borated slugs with the ambient coolant in the RPV was investigated at the four loop 1:5 scaled ROCOM mixing test facility. Based on the ATHLET-calculations, a volume flow rate of 5% of the nominal rate was set in the loops running in one-phase flow. The volume flow rate in the two restarting loops increases from zero to 6%. In these two loops, de-borated slugs of 7.2 m3 were assumed corresponding to the volume of the whole loop seal. An experimental parameter study was carried out with different duration of the flow ramp and variation of the density difference between de-borated slug and ambient coolant due to differences in boron concentration and temperature. The variation of the density difference significantly changes the mixing behavior. With no density difference, the weakly borated coolant almost perpendicularly flows down in the downcomer and a maximum of 64% of the initial perturbation is detected in the core entry section below the loops where the slugs were formed. Increasing the density difference, a stratification is observed in the downcomer. The less dense slugs flow around the core barrel at the top of the downcomer. At the opposite side the lower borated coolant is entrained by the colder safety injection water and transported to the core. This entrainment effect leads to the admixture of boron from the safety injection to the under-borated slugs. Consequently, the maximum under-boration at the core entry is lower. For the maximum investigated density difference of 2%, a value of 31% only of the initial under-boration was measured at the core entrance.

Buoyancy Driven Coolant Mixing Studies of Natural Circulation Flows at the ROCOM Test Facility Using ANSYS CFX

2006 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas Ho¨hne ◽  
So¨ren Kliem ◽  
Ulrich Rohde ◽  
Frank-Peter Weiß
Keyword(s):  
Pressure Vessel ◽  
Natural Circulation ◽  
Reactor Pressure Vessel ◽  
Density Difference ◽  
Test Facility ◽  
Mean Flow ◽  
Pressurized Water ◽  
The Core ◽  
Ansys Cfx ◽  
Reactor Pressure

Coolant mixing in the cold leg, downcomer and the lower plenum of pressurized water reactors is an important phenomenon mitigating the reactivity insertion into the core. Therefore, mixing of the de-borated slugs with the ambient coolant in the reactor pressure vessel was investigated at the four loop 1:5 scaled ROCOM mixing test facility. Thermal hydraulics analyses showed, that weakly borated condensate can accumulate in particular in the pump loop seal of those loops, which do not receive safety injection. After refilling of the primary circuit, natural circulation in the stagnant loops can re-establish simultaneously and the de-borated slugs are shifted towards the reactor pressure vessel (RPV). In the ROCOM experiments, the length of the flow ramp and the initial density difference between the slugs and the ambient coolant was varied. From the test matrix experiments with 0 resp. 2% density difference between the de-borated slugs and the ambient coolant were used to validate the CFD software ANSYS CFX. To model the effects of turbulence on the mean flow a higher order Reynolds stress turbulence model was employed and a mesh consisting of 6.4 million hybrid elements was utilized. Only the experiments and CFD calculations with modeled density differences show a stratification in the downcomer. Depending on the degree of density differences the less dense slugs flow around the core barrel at the top of the downcomer. At the opposite side the lower borated coolant is entrained by the colder safety injection water and transported to the core. The validation proves that ANSYS CFX is able to simulate appropriately the flow field and mixing effects of coolant with different densities.

The Influence of the Wall Stored Energy on the Natural-Circulation Mode in the Core Make-Up Tank Test Facility

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mingzhang Zhu ◽  
Huajian Chang ◽  
Han Wang ◽  
Xi Xu ◽  
Yang Shi
Keyword(s):  
Flow Rate ◽  
Thermal Stratification ◽  
Turning Point ◽  
Natural Circulation ◽  
Test Facility ◽  
Circulation Flow ◽  
Stored Energy ◽  
The Core ◽  
Circulation Mode ◽  
Circulation Flow Rate

Scaled down thermal-hydraulic test facility is widely used in the nuclear reactor safety analysis. The wall stored energy is one of the common problem in a scaled down test facility, which will cause distortions in the simulation of the transients or local phenomena. For the natural-circulation mode in the Core Makeup Tank (CMT), the cold wall will work as heat sink and absorb heat from the heated water, and then has an influence in energy balance on the simulation of the prototype phenomena with scaled down test facility. In order to study the influence of the wall stored energy on the natural-circulation mode in the CMT test facility, this paper established the CMT test facility model with RELAP5/MOD 3.4, and studied the influence caused by the wall stored energy distortion. The simulation results show that the natural-circulation process in the CMT test facility can be divided into two stages: 1. Before the thermal stratification reaches the outlet, the natural-circulation flow rate decreases gradually. 2. Once the thermal stratification reaches the outlet, the natural-circulation flow rate has an apparent turning point and decreases faster. That is because the heated water reaches the outlet and fills the discharge line quickly, which reduces the density difference between the hot leg and cold leg, thus causing the natural-circulation flow rate decrease faster. Besides, before the turning point, the wall stored energy basically has no influence on the natural-circulation process, and the influence can be neglected in the design of test facility. However, after the turning point, the wall stored energy distortion results in a slower descent speed of natural-circulation flow rate, which is not conservative. Therefore, we can conclude that the scaled down CMT test facility can only simulate the prototype properly and conduct the natural-circulation simulation experiment before the thermal stratification reaches the exit, while afterwards, the simulation of the test facility won’t be accurate and conservative.

Experimental Investigation of Coolant Mixing in the RPV of PWR in the Late Phase of a SBLOCA Event

2006 ◽  
Author(s):  
So¨ren Kliem ◽  
Horst-Michael Prasser ◽  
Tobias Su¨hnel ◽  
Frank-Peter Weiss ◽  
Asmus Hansen
Keyword(s):  
Boron Concentration ◽  
Natural Circulation ◽  
Outer Part ◽  
Wire Mesh ◽  
Test Facility ◽  
Primary Circuit ◽  
Pressurized Water ◽  
The Core ◽  
Borated Water ◽  
Reactivity Insertion

Partial depletion of the primary circuit of a pressurized water reactor during a postulated small break loss of coolant accident can lead to interruption of one-phase flow natural circulation. In this case, the decay heat is removed from the core in the reflux-condenser mode. In this operation mode, slugs of lower borated water can accumulate in the cold legs. After refilling of the primary circuit, the natural circulation in the two loops not receiving emergency core cooling injection (ECC) re-establishes and the lower borated slugs are shifted towards the reactor pressure vessel (RPV). Entering the core, the lower borated water causes a reactivity insertion. Mixing inside the RPV is an important phenomenon limiting the reactivity insertion and preventing a re-criticality. The mixing of these lower borated slugs with the ambient coolant in the RPV was investigated at the 1:5 scaled coolant mixing test facility ROCOM. Wire mesh sensors based on electrical conductivity measurement are used in ROCOM to measure in detail the spreading of a tracer solution in the facility. The mixing in the downcomer was observed with a sensor which spans a measuring grid of 64 azimuthal and 32 positions over the height. The resulting distribution of the boron concentration at the core inlet was measured with a sensor integrated into the lower core support plate providing one measurement position at the entry into each fuel assembly. The boundary conditions for the mixing experiment were taken from an experiment at the thermal-hydraulic test facility PKL operated by FANP Germany. The slugs, which have a lower density, accumulate in the upper part of the downcomer after shifting into the RPV. The ECC-water injected into the RPV falls almost straight down through the lower borated water and accelerates. On the outer sides of the ECC-streak, lower borated coolant admixes and flows together with the ECC-water downwards. This is the only mechanism of transporting the lower borated water into the lower plenum. All these effects could be visualized and quantified by the downcomer sensor. On the way to the core, the lower borated water is effectively mixing with the ambient, high borated water. Therefore, in the core inlet plane, lower borated water is detected only in the outer part. The minimum boron concentration, measured at one fuel element inlet position at one certain time point, was 71% of the initial 2500 ppm. There is no change of the initial boron concentration in the inner part of the core inlet plane during the whole transient at all.

Research on Enhancement of Natural Circulation Capability in Lead-Bismuth Alloy Cooled Reactor by Using Gas-Lift Pump

2012 ◽  
Author(s):  
Juanli Zuo ◽  
Wenxi Tian ◽  
Suizheng Qiu ◽  
Guanghui Su
Keyword(s):  
Flow Rate ◽  
Volume Flow Rate ◽  
Natural Circulation ◽  
Bubbly Flow ◽  
Bubble Diameter ◽  
Volume Flow ◽  
System Safety ◽  
Bismuth Alloy ◽  
Gas Volume ◽  
Gas Lift

The gas-lift pump has been adopted to enhance the natural circulation capability in the type of lead-bismuth alloy cooled reactors such as ADS and LMFR. The natural circulation ability and the system safety are obviously influenced by the two phase flow characteristics of liquid metal-inert gas. In this study, the numerical research has been performed to evaluate the natural circulation capability of lead-bismuth cooled ADS with gas-lift pump. The drift flow theory, void fraction prediction model and friction pressure drop prediction model have been adopted in this numerical simulation. The effects of the gas flow rate, the bubble diameter and the height of ascension pipe on natural circulation capability of gas-lift pump have been analyzed. The results showed that in bubbly flow pattern, for a fixed value of gas volume flow rate, the natural circulation capability increased with the decrease of the bubble diameter. In the bubbly flow, slug flow, churn flow and annular flow pattern, with the gas volume flow rate increasing, the natural circulation capability initially increased and then declined. As the height of ascension pipe increased, the natural circulation flow rate went up. Besides, the flow parameters influenced the thermal hydraulic characteristics of the reactor core obviously. Therefore, in the practical engineering application, the suitable gas volume flow rate, bubble diameter and the height of ascension pipe are important parameters to the capability of natural circulation in lead bismuth alloy loop of this research. The present work is helpful for revealing the law of enhancing the natural circulation capability by gas-lift pump, and providing theoretical basis of the optimization design of cooling and system safety.

Novel epoxy/anhydride alternatives for biological electron microscopy: Physical and performance characteristis of embed 812 and LX 112 in combination with NSA/NMA/DMAE

1989 ◽  
Vol 47 ◽  
pp. 1000-1001
Author(s):  
Joe A. Mascorro ◽  
Gerald S. Kirby
Keyword(s):  
Electron Microscopy ◽  
Flow Rate ◽  
Succinic Anhydride ◽  
Volume Flow Rate ◽  
Mass Density ◽  
Uranyl Acetate ◽  
Volume Flow ◽  
Base Resin ◽  
And Performance ◽  
Acid Anhydrides

Embedding media based upon an epoxy resin of choice and the acid anhydrides dodecenyl succinic anhydride (DDSA), nadic methyl anhydride (NMA), and catalyzed by the tertiary amine 2,4,6-Tri(dimethylaminomethyl) phenol (DMP-30) are widely used in biological electron microscopy. These media possess a viscosity character that can impair tissue infiltration, particularly if original Epon 812 is utilized as the base resin. Other resins that are considerably less viscous than Epon 812 now are available as replacements. Likewise, nonenyl succinic anhydride (NSA) and dimethylaminoethanol (DMAE) are more fluid than their counterparts DDSA and DMP- 30 commonly used in earlier formulations. This work utilizes novel epoxy and anhydride combinations in order to produce embedding media with desirable flow rate and viscosity parameters that, in turn, would allow the medium to optimally infiltrate tissues. Specifically, embeding media based on EmBed 812 or LX 112 with NSA (in place of DDSA) and DMAE (replacing DMP-30), with NMA remaining constant, are formulated and offered as alternatives for routine biological work.Individual epoxy resins (Table I) or complete embedding media (Tables II-III) were tested for flow rate and viscosity. The novel media were further examined for their ability to infilftrate tissues, polymerize, sectioning and staining character, as well as strength and stability to the electron beam and column vacuum. For physical comparisons, a volume (9 ml) of either resin or media was aspirated into a capillary viscocimeter oriented vertically. The material was then allowed to flow out freely under the influence of gravity and the flow time necessary for the volume to exit was recored (Col B,C; Tables). In addition, the volume flow rate (ml flowing/second; Col D, Tables) was measured. Viscosity (n) could then be determined by using the Hagen-Poiseville relation for laminar flow, n = c.p/Q, where c = a geometric constant from an instrument calibration with water, p = mass density, and Q = volume flow rate. Mass weight and density of the materials were determined as well (Col F,G; Tables). Infiltration schedules utilized were short (1/2 hr 1:1, 3 hrs full resin), intermediate (1/2 hr 1:1, 6 hrs full resin) , or long (1/2 hr 1:1, 6 hrs full resin) in total time. Polymerization schedules ranging from 15 hrs (overnight) through 24, 36, or 48 hrs were tested. Sections demonstrating gold interference colors were collected on unsupported 200- 300 mesh grids and stained sequentially with uranyl acetate and lead citrate.

Multi-objective optimization of squirrel cage fan for range hood based on Kriging model

2021 ◽  
pp. 095440622199586
Author(s):  
Qianhao Xiao ◽  
Jun Wang ◽  
Boyan Jiang ◽  
Weigang Yang ◽  
Xiaopei Yang
Keyword(s):  
Flow Rate ◽  
Optimization Design ◽  
Volume Flow Rate ◽  
Kriging Model ◽  
Volume Flow ◽  
Design Parameters ◽  
Multi Objective Optimization ◽  
Nsga Ii ◽  
Multi Objective ◽  
Squirrel Cage

In view of the multi-objective optimization design of the squirrel cage fan for the range hood, a blade parameterization method based on the quadratic non-uniform B-spline (NUBS) determined by four control points was proposed to control the outlet angle, chord length and maximum camber of the blade. Morris-Mitchell criteria were used to obtain the optimal Latin hypercube sample based on the evolutionary operation, and different subsets of sample numbers were created to study the influence of sample numbers on the multi-objective optimization results. The Kriging model, which can accurately reflect the response relationship between design variables and optimization objectives, was established. The second-generation Non-dominated Sorting Genetic algorithm (NSGA-II) was used to optimize the volume flow rate at the best efficiency point (BEP) and the maximum volume flow rate point (MVP). The results show that the design parameters corresponding to the optimization results under different sample numbers are not the same, and the fluctuation range of the optimal design parameters is related to the influence of the design parameters on the optimization objectives. Compared with the prototype, the optimized impeller increases the radial velocity of the impeller outlet, reduces the flow loss in the volute, and increases the diffusion capacity, which improves the volume flow rate, and efficiency of the range hood system under multiple working conditions.

scholarly journals Influence of Magnetic Field on the Peristaltic Flow of a Viscous Fluid through a Finite-Length Cylindrical Tube

2010 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 169-176 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. K. Pandey ◽  
Dharmendra Tripathi
Keyword(s):  
Magnetic Field ◽  
Viscous Fluid ◽  
Transverse Magnetic Field ◽  
Finite Length ◽  
Flow Rate ◽  
Hartmann Number ◽  
Volume Flow Rate ◽  
Critical Value ◽  
Transverse Magnetic ◽  
Volume Flow

The paper presents an analytical investigation of the peristaltic transport of a viscous fluid under the influence of a magnetic field through a tube of finite length in a dimensionless form. The expressions of pressure gradient, volume flow rate, average volume flow rate and local wall shear stress have been obtained. The effects of the transverse magnetic field and electrical conductivity (i.e. the Hartmann number) on the mechanical efficiency of a peristaltic pump have also been studied. The reflux phenomenon is also investigated. It is concluded, on the basis of the pressure distribution along the tubular length and pumping efficiency, that if the transverse magnetic field and the electric conductivity increase, the pumping machinery exerts more pressure for pushing the fluid forward. There is a linear relation between the averaged flow rate and the pressure applied across one wavelength that can restrain the flow due to peristalsis. It is found that there is a particular value of the averaged flow rate corresponding to a particular pressure that does not depend on the Hartmann number. Naming these values ‘critical values’, it is concluded that the pressure required for checking the flow increases with the Hartmann number above the critical value and decreases with it below the critical value. It is also inferred that magneto-hydrodynamic parameters make the fluid more prone to flow reversal. The conclusion applied to oesophageal swallowing reveals that normal water is easier to swallow than saline water. The latter is more prone to flow reversal. A significant difference between the propagation of the integral and non-integral number of waves along the tube is that pressure peaks are identical in the former and different in the latter cases.

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