scholarly journals Benchmark Analysis on Loss-of-Flow-without-Scram Test of FFTF Using Refined SAC-3D Models

2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 ◽  
pp. 1-15
Author(s):  
Siyu Lyu ◽  
Daogang Lu ◽  
Danting Sui

The Fast Flux Test Facility (FFTF) is a liquid sodium-cooled nuclear reactor designed by the Westinghouse Electric Corporation for the U.S. Department of Energy. In July 1986, a series of unprotected transients were performed to demonstrate the passive safety of FFTF. Among these, a total of 13 loss-of-flow-without scram (LOFWOS) tests were conducted to confirm the liquid metal reactor safety margins, provide data for computer code validation, and demonstrate the inherent and passive safety benefits of specific design features. In our preliminary work, we have performed relatively coarse modeling of the FFTF. To better predict the transient behavior of FFTF LOFWOS test #13, we modeled it using a more refined thermal-hydraulics model. In this paper, we simulate FFTF LOFWOS test #13 with the system safety analysis code SAC-3D according to the benchmark specifications provided by Argonne National Laboratory (ANL). The simulation range includes the primary and secondary circuits. The reactor core was modeled by the built-in 3D neutronics calculation module and the parallel-channel thermal-hydraulics calculation module. To better predict the reactivity feedback introduced by coolant level variations within the GEMs, a real-time macro cross-section homogenization processing module was developed. The steady-state power distribution was calculated as the transient simulation initial boundary conditions. In general, both the steady-state calculation results and the whole-plant transient behavior predictions are in good agreement with the measured data. The relatively large deviations in transient simulation occur in the outlet temperature predictions of the PIOTA in row 6. It can be preliminarily explained by the reason for neglecting the heat transfer between channels in this model.

Author(s):  
Stephan Schulz ◽  
Rainer Hampel

For Boiling Water Reactors (BWR) and steam generators, the water level is a safety-relevant process variable. The most commonly applied measuring method is based on the calculation of the liquid level from geodetic pressure differences to a reference column of defined height and density. However, transition processes occurring under operational and accident conditions may lead to dynamic changes in the reference level and therefore to fluctuations in the differential pressure signal. This paper presents experiments and numerical simulations on the steady-state and transient behavior of gas/liquid phase boundaries in “Zero Chamber Level Vessels” (ZCLV). In these slightly inclined miniature tubes, the constant reference level is provided by surface tension forces and the capillary effect, respectively. To investigate the basic topology of gas/liquid interfaces under simplified conditions (environmental parameters, no heat transfer), a test facility with optical access was developed. The construction allows for variations of the inner tube diameter, inclination angle and liquid mass flow rate, respectively. By this means, experiments on phase boundaries were carried out for ethanol/air and water/air. The results provide information about the impact of geometry parameters and their interactions on the interface topology. In addition, the dynamic draining of excess liquid mass at the free end of the tube and at artificial weld seams, which is supposed to be the reason for temperature fluctuations observed in ZCLV during power operation of BWR, was experimentally analyzed. The measurements represent the basis for an experimental validation and optimizations of the numerical flow code ANSYS CFX 12.0. In the next step, water/vapor phase boundaries at 286 °C and 70 bar will be investigated by applying x-ray radiography to a scale model. The results will be discussed in context with the hydrostatic level measurement in BWR.


2015 ◽  
Vol 2015 ◽  
pp. 1-9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peng Chuanxin ◽  
Zhuo Wenbin ◽  
Chen Bingde ◽  
Nie Changhua ◽  
Huang Yanping

Low pressure reactor is a small size advanced reactor with power of 180 MWt, which is under development at Nuclear Power Institute of China. In order to assess the ability and feasibility of passive safety system, several tests have been implemented on the passive safety system (PSS) test facility. During the LOCA and SBO accident, the adequate core cooling is provided by the performance of passive safety system. In addition the best-estimate thermal hydraulic code, CATHARE V2.1, has been assessed against cold leg LOCA test. The calculation results show that CATHARE is in a satisfactory agreement with the test for the steady state and transient test.


2013 ◽  
Vol 135 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephan Schulz ◽  
Rainer Hampel

For boiling water reactors (BWR) and steam generators, the water level is a safety-relevant process variable. The most commonly applied measuring method is based on the calculation of the liquid level from geodetic pressure differences to a reference column of defined height and density. However, transition processes occurring under operational and accident conditions may lead to dynamic changes in the reference level and, therefore, to fluctuations in the differential pressure signal. This paper presents experiments and numerical simulations on the steady-state and transient behavior of gas/liquid phase boundaries in “zero chamber level vessels” (ZCLV). In these slightly inclined miniature tubes, the constant reference level is provided by surface tension forces and the capillary effect, respectively. To investigate the basic topology of gas/liquid interfaces under simplified conditions (environmental parameters, no heat transfer), a test facility with optical access was developed. The construction allows for variations of the inner tube diameter, inclination angle, and liquid mass flow rate, respectively. By this means, experiments on phase boundaries were carried out for ethanol/air and water/air. The results provide information about the impact of geometry parameters and their interactions on the interface topology. In addition, the dynamic draining of excess liquid mass at the free end of the tube and at artificial weld seams, which is supposed to be the reason for temperature fluctuations observed in ZCLV during power operation of BWR, was experimentally analyzed. The measurements represent the basis for an experimental validation and optimizations of the numerical flow code ANSYS CFX 12.0. In the next step, water/vapor phase boundaries at 286 °C and 70 bars will be investigated by applying X-ray radiography to a scale model. The results will be discussed in context with the hydrostatic level measurement in BWR.


Author(s):  
Hadi Ramin ◽  
Easwaran N. Krishnan ◽  
Gurubalan Annadurai ◽  
Carey J. Simonson

Abstract A small-scale test facility is developed to determine the sensible effectiveness of a Fixed-Bed Regenerator (FBR) and the results are used to validate a numerical model. The numerical and experimental results for quasi-steady-state conditions are in a good agreement within the experimental uncertainty bounds. At quasi-steady-state condition, the outlet temperature of FBR varies with time but cyclically repeats itself; this is an important difference between FBR (regenerator) and recuperator heat exchangers. The outlet temperature of recuperator heat exchangers reaches a constant value during the steady-state operation. The quasi-steady-state temperature profile is used to determine the sensible effectiveness of FBRs. However, FBRs undergo several cycles to reach the quasi-steady-state condition. The prediction of the duration of the transient duration of FBR is important for performance testing that could save money and time. CSA (Canadian Standards Association) recommends operating FBR for at least one hour to achieve a quasi-steady-state condition. This paper addresses the heat transfer behavior of FBRs during their transient operation. The initial transient cycles depend on the cycle period of FBR, air flow rate and the thermal condition of the exchanger at the beginning of the test. The small-scale FBR test facility is used to study the transient behavior of FBRs and this is the main focus of this paper. The temperature profile during the transient condition of FBR is obtained and the results are compared with the numerical model. The effects of the mass flow rate of air and the cycle duration on the transient period of FBR are studied. The results show that FBR reaches a quasi-steady state operation in less than 30 minutes. The results will be useful for understanding the time required for performance testing, which will reduce the cost and time of each test.


2012 ◽  
Vol 134 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Joseph R. Wasniewski ◽  
David H. Altman ◽  
Stephen L. Hodson ◽  
Timothy S. Fisher ◽  
Anuradha Bulusu ◽  
...  

The next generation of thermal interface materials (TIMs) are currently being developed to meet the increasing demands of high-powered semiconductor devices. In particular, a variety of nanostructured materials, such as carbon nanotubes (CNTs), are interesting due to their ability to provide low resistance heat transport from device-to-spreader and compliance between materials with dissimilar coefficients of thermal expansion (CTEs), but few application-ready configurations have been produced and tested. Recently, we have undertaken major efforts to develop functional nanothermal interface materials (nTIMs) based on short, vertically aligned CNTs grown on both sides of a thin interposer foil and interfaced with substrate materials via metallic bonding. A high-precision 1D steady-state test facility has been utilized to measure the performance of nTIM samples, and more importantly, to correlate performance to the controllable parameters. In this paper, we describe our material structures and the myriad permutations of parameters that have been investigated in their design. We report these nTIM thermal performance results, which include a best to-date thermal interface resistance measurement of 3.5 mm2 K/W, independent of applied pressure. This value is significantly better than a variety of commercially available, high-performance thermal pads and greases we tested, and compares favorably with the best results reported for CNT-based materials in an application-representative setting.


Energies ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 11 (10) ◽  
pp. 2544 ◽  
Author(s):  
En-Chih Chang

In this paper, an intelligent sliding mode controlled voltage source inverter (VSI) is developed to achieve not only quick transient behavior, but satisfactory steady-state response. The presented approach combines the respective merits of a nonsingular fast terminal attractor (NFTA) as well as an adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system (ANFIS). The NFTA allows no singularity and error states to be converged to the equilibrium within a finite time, while conventional sliding mode control (SMC) leads to long-term (infinite) convergent behavior. However, there is the likelihood of chattering or steady-state error occurring in NFTA due to the overestimation or underestimation of system uncertainty bound. The ANFIS with accurate estimation and the ease of implementation is employed in NFTA for suppressing the chatter or steady-state error so as to improve the system’s robustness against uncertain disturbances. Simulation results display that this described approach yields low distorted output wave shapes and quick transience in the presence of capacitor input rectifier loading as well as abrupt connection of linear loads. Experimental results conducted on a 1 kW VSI prototype with control algorithm implementation in Texas Instruments DSP (digital signal processor) support the theoretic analysis and reaffirm the robust performance of the developed VSI. Because the proposed VSI yields remarkable benefits over conventional terminal attractor VSIs on the basis of computational quickness and unsophisticated realization, the presented approach is a noteworthy referral to the designers of correlated VSI applications in future, such as DC (direct current) microgrids and AC (alternating current) microgrids, or even hybrid AC/DC microgrids.


2005 ◽  
Vol 128 (3) ◽  
pp. 444-454 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Venturini

In the paper, self-adapting models capable of reproducing time-dependent data with high computational speed are investigated. The considered models are recurrent feed-forward neural networks (RNNs) with one feedback loop in a recursive computational structure, trained by using a back-propagation learning algorithm. The data used for both training and testing the RNNs have been generated by means of a nonlinear physics-based model for compressor dynamic simulation, which was calibrated on a multistage axial-centrifugal small size compressor. The first step of the analysis is the selection of the compressor maneuver to be used for optimizing RNN training. The subsequent step consists in evaluating the most appropriate RNN structure (optimal number of neurons in the hidden layer and number of outputs) and RNN proper delay time. Then, the robustness of the model response towards measurement uncertainty is ascertained, by comparing the performance of RNNs trained on data uncorrupted or corrupted with measurement errors with respect to the simulation of data corrupted with measurement errors. Finally, the best RNN model is tested on field data taken on the axial-centrifugal compressor on which the physics-based model was calibrated, by comparing physics-based model and RNN predictions against measured data. The comparison between RNN predictions and measured data shows that the agreement can be considered acceptable for inlet pressure, outlet pressure and outlet temperature, while errors are significant for inlet mass flow rate.


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