THE THERMOHYDRAULIC ANALYSIS OF THE BANDUNG RESEARCH REACTOR CORE WITH PLATE TYPE FUEL ELEMENTS USING THE CFD CODE

Due to TRIGA fuel elements are no longer produced by General Atomic, it is necessary to find a solution so that the Bandung TRIGA 2000 reactor can still be operated. One solution is to replace the type of fuel elements. Study on using the MTR plate type fuel elements as used in RSG-GAS Serpong has been done for the Bandung TRIGA 2000. Based on the results of the study using CFD computer program, it is found that Bandung TRIGA 2000 with plate type fuel elements cannot be operated up to 2000 kW power by natural convection cooling mode. Therefore, the reactor must be cooled by forced convection. The analysis using forced convection showed that for cooling flow rate of 50 kg/s and various temperatures of 35oC, 35.5 oC and 36 oC, the surface temperature of the fuel element is between 110.37 oC and 111.27 oC. Meanwhile, the cooling water temperature in the corresponding position is between 61.03 oC and 61.95 oC. In this operation condition, the surface temperatures of fuel elements can approach the saturation temperature and nucleat boiling started to occur. Hence, the use of cooling flow rate entering core less than 50 kg/s should be avoided. The surface temperature of fuel elements decreased under saturation temperature if cooling flow rate is greater than 65 kg/s. The surface temperature of fuel elements is achieved at 96.65 oC and coolant temperature in the corresponding position was 54.38 oC. Keywords: Bandung research reactor, plate type fuel element, thermohydraulic, CFD code ANALISIS TERMOHIDROLIK TERAS REAKTOR RISET BANDUNG BERELEMEN BAKAR TIPE PELAT MENGGUNAKAN PROGRAM CFD. Mengingat tidak diproduksinya lagi elemen bakar TRIGA oleh General Atomic, maka perlu diusahakan suatu solusi agar reaktor TRIGA 2000 Bandung dapat tetap beroperasi. Salah satu solusi adalah dengan melakukan penggantian tipe elemen bakar. Pada studi ini telah dianalisis penggunaan elemen bakar tipe pelat yang sejenis dengan yang digunakan di RSG-GAS Serpong, untuk digunakankan pada teras reaktor TRIGA 2000 Bandung. Berdasarkan hasil penelitian yang telah dilakukan dengan menggunakan program komputer CFD, diketahui bahwa reaktor TRIGA berelemen bakar tipe pelat tidak dapat dioperasikan pada daya 2000 kW dengan menggunakan moda pendinginan konveksi alamiah seperti yang digunakan saat ini. Untuk kondisi ini, pendinginan dilakukan dengan moda pendinginan konveksi paksa. Hasil analisis konveksi paksa menunjukkan bahwa dengan menggunakan laju alir pendingin pompa 50 kg/s dan variasi temperatur pada 35 oC, 35,5 oC dan 36 oC, diperoleh temperatur permukaan pelat elemen bakar antara 110,37 oC – 111,27 oC dan temperatur pendinginnya pada posisi terkait antara 61,03 oC – 61,95 oC. Temperatur permukaan pelat elemen bakar ini mendekati temperatur saturasi dan tentunya telah mulai terjadi pendidihan inti, sehingga penggunaan laju alir pendingin masuk teras reaktor kurang dari 50 kg/s perlu dihindari. Temperatur permukaan pelat elemen bakar mulai menurun menjauhi temperatur saturasi jika digunakan laju alir pendingin lebih besar dari 65 kg/s, dengan temperatur permukaan pelat elemen bakar 96,65 oC dan temperatur pendinginnya pada posisi terkait 54,38 oC.Kata kunci: Reaktor riset Bandung, elemen bakar tipe pelat, termohidrolik, program CFD

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Power upgrading of WWR-S research reactor using plate-type fuel elements part I: Steady-state thermal-hydraulic analysis (forced convection cooling mode)

Nuclear Engineering and Technology ◽

10.1016/j.net.2019.12.022 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 52 (7) ◽

pp. 1417-1428

Author(s):

Adel Alyan ◽

Moustafa S. El-Koliel

Keyword(s):

Steady State ◽

Forced Convection ◽

Research Reactor ◽

Hydraulic Analysis ◽

Cooling Mode ◽

Convection Cooling ◽

Fuel Elements ◽

Thermal Hydraulic Analysis ◽

Type Fuel ◽

Plate Type

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Design of U3Si2-Al Plate-Type Fuel Element for China Advanced Research Reactor

18th International Conference on Nuclear Engineering: Volume 6 ◽

10.1115/icone18-29231 ◽

2010 ◽

Author(s):

Aimin Zhang ◽

Yalun Kang

Keyword(s):

Fuel Element ◽

Neutron Flux ◽

Research Reactor ◽

High Heat ◽

Reactor Power ◽

High Heat Flux ◽

Water Tank ◽

Enriched Uranium ◽

Fuel Elements ◽

Plate Type

China Advanced Research Reactor (CARR), which will be critical in China Institute of Atomic Energy (CIAE) in 2010, is a multipurpose, high neutron flux and tank-type (inverse neutron trap) reactor with compact core. Its nominal reactor power is 60MW and the maximum thermal neutron flux is about 8.0×1014n/cm2·s in heavy water tank. It has a cylindrical core having a diameter of about 450mm and a height of 850mm. The CARR’s core consists of seventeen plate-type standard fuel elements and four follower fuel elements, initially loaded with 10.97 kg of 235U. The fuel element has been designed with U3S2-Al dispersion containing 235U of (19.75±0.20)wt.% low enriched uranium (LEU) and having a density of 4.3gU/cm3. The aluminum alloy is used as the cladding. There are twenty-one and seventeen fuel plates in the standard and follower fuel element, respectively. There are specific requirements for design of the fuel element and strict limitation for the operation parameters due to the high heat flux and high velocity of coolant in CARR. Irradiation test of fuel element had been carried out at fuel element power of 3.1±20%MW at Russia MIR reactor. Average burnup of fuel element is up to 40%. This paper deals with the detailed design of fuel element for CARR, out-pile and in-pile test projects, including selection of fuel and structure material, description of element structure, miniplates and fuel element irradiation experiment, measurement of properties of fuel plate, fabrication of fuel element and test results.

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ANALISIS KONVEKSI ALAM TERAS REAKTOR TRIGA BERBAHAN BAKAR TIPE PELAT MENGGUNAKAN COOLOD-N2

JURNAL TEKNOLOGI REAKTOR NUKLIR TRI DASA MEGA ◽

10.17146/tdm.2015.17.2.2317 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 17 (2) ◽

pp. 67 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Sudjatmi K A ◽

Endiah Puji Hastuti ◽

Surip Widodo ◽

Reinaldy Nazar

Keyword(s):

Natural Convection ◽

Fuel Element ◽

Flow Instability ◽

Reactor Core ◽

Nucleate Boiling ◽

Coolant Temperature ◽

Triga Reactor ◽

Fuel Elements ◽

Type Fuel ◽

Plate Type

ABSTRAK Analisis Konveksi Alam Teras Reaktor Triga Berbahan Bakar Tipe Pelat MENGGUNAKAN COOLOD-N2. Rencana penghentian produksi elemen bakar jenis TRIGA oleh produsen elemen bakar reaktor TRIGA, sudah seharusnya diantisipasi oleh badan pengoperasi reaktor TRIGA untuk menggantikan elemen bakar tipe silinder tersebut dengan tipe pelat yang tersedia di pasaran. Pada penelitian ini dilakukan perhitungan untuk model teras reaktor dengan spesifikasi utama menggunakan bahan bakar U3Si2Al dengan pengayaan uranium sebesar 19,75% dan tingkat muat 2,96 gU/cm3. Analisis dilakukan menggunakan program COOLOD-N2 yang tervalidasi pada konfigurasi teras TRIGA konversi berbahan bakar tipe pelat, yang tersusun atas 16 elemen bakar, 4 elemen kendali dan 1 fasilitas iradiasi yang terletak tepat di tengah teras. Hasil analisis menunjukkan bahwa dengan temperatur pendingin masuk ke teras sebesar 37oC, dan rasio faktor puncak daya radial ≤ 1,92 maka daya maksimum yang dapat dioperasikan pada moda operasi konveksi bebas adalah 600 kW. Karakteristik termohidrolika yang diperoleh antara lain adalah temperatur pendingin di sisi outlet, kelongsong dan meat masing-masing sebesar 82,39oC, 108,88oC, dan 109,02oC, pada ΔTONB (Temperature Onset of Nucleate Boiling) =7,18oC dan nilai OFIR (Onset of flow instability ratio) =1,03 Hasil yang diperoleh dari perhitungan ini diharapkan dapat dijadikan acuan untuk menentukan tingkat daya reaktor TRIGA berbahan bakar pelat. Kata kunci: TRIGA Konversi, COOLOD-N2, karakteristik termohidrolika, konveksi alam, elemen bakar tipe pelat. ABSTRACT ANALYSIS OF NATURAL CONVECTION IN TRIGA REACTOR CORE PLATE TYPES FUELED USING COOLOD-N2. Any pretensions to stop the production of TRIGA fuel elements by TRIGA reactor fuel elements manufacturer should be anticipated by the operating agency of TRIGA reactor to replace the cylinder type fuel element with plate type fuel element that available on the market. In this study, the calculation of U3Si2Al fuel with uranium enrichment of 19.75 % and a load level of 2.96 gU/cm3 was performed. Analyses were performed using the validated COOLOD - N2 program. TRIGA conversion core configurations of fuel plate type are composed of 16 fuel elements, 4 control elements and 1 irradiation facilities which are located in the middle of core. The calculation results showed that if the cooling temperature was 37°C, and the ratio of radial power peaking factor ≤ 1.92, then the maximum power that can be operated on free convection mode of operation was 600 kW. The thermalhydraulic characteristic obtained such as coolant temperature at the outlet side, cladding and meat were 82.39°C, 108.88°C and 109.02°C respectively, while the ΔTONB (Temperature Onset of Nucleate Boiling) was 7.18°C and OFIR (Onset of flow instability ratio) value was 1.03. The results are expected to be used as a reference for determining the power level of the TRIGA reactor core plate types fueled. Keywords: TRIGA Convertion, COOLOD-N2, Thermalhydraulics characteristic, natural convection, plate type fuel element.

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Studies on Production Planning of Dispersion Type U<sub>3</sub>Si<sub>2</sub>-Al Fuel in Plate-Type Fuel Elements for Nuclear Research Reactors

World Journal of Nuclear Science and Technology ◽

10.4236/wjnst.2016.64023 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 06 (04) ◽

pp. 217-231

Author(s):

Miguel Luiz Miotto Negro ◽

Michelangelo Durazzo ◽

Marco Aurélio de Mesquita ◽

Elita Fontenele Urano de Carvalho ◽

Delvonei Alves de Andrade

Keyword(s):

Production Planning ◽

Nuclear Research ◽

Research Reactors ◽

Fuel Elements ◽

Type Fuel ◽

Plate Type

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Study on Flow Boiling Characteristics in Rectangle Channel After Formation of Blisters

Frontiers in Energy Research ◽

10.3389/fenrg.2021.676586 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 9 ◽

Author(s):

Huijian Huang ◽

Chong Chen ◽

Luguo Liu ◽

Yu Liu ◽

Linfeng Li ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Flow Boiling ◽

The Novel ◽

Local Flow ◽

Flow Through ◽

Cfd Method ◽

Dry Out ◽

Fuel Elements ◽

Type Fuel ◽

Plate Type ◽

Structure Choice

Plate-type fuel elements is one of the first fuel structure choice for the novel integrated PWR, however, blisters will appear on the cladding induced by irradiation and fission. In this work CFD method was used to investigate the subcooled boiling characteristic of the water in rectangle channel with round and pillow blisters, the modified RPI model was also proposed, we can draw conclusions as follows: In the channel with round blister, as the blisters will increase the local flow resistance and more fluid will flow through center of the channel. Boiling occurred only in the area near the edges, nearly no vapor appeared at the center of the channel. The boiling region in channel with pillow shape blisters is wider and concentrated between two pillow blisters and downstream of the non-blisters side. The dry out area are both in the downstream region of blisters for the two types of channels.

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THE APPLICATION OF A NOMINAL 48 WT % U-Al ALLOY TO PLATE-TYPE ALUMINUM RESEARCH REACTOR FUEL ELEMENTS

10.2172/4309339 ◽

1958 ◽

Author(s):

W C Thurber ◽

J H Erwin ◽

R J Beaver

Keyword(s):

Research Reactor ◽

Reactor Fuel ◽

Al Alloy ◽

Fuel Elements ◽

Plate Type

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In-core heat transfer in MTR plate type fuel elements

Nuclear Engineering and Design ◽

10.1016/0029-5493(70)90010-5 ◽

1970 ◽

Vol 12 (2) ◽

pp. 231-248 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

P.J. Kreyger ◽

W.A. Essler ◽

W. Dellmann

Keyword(s):

Heat Transfer ◽

Fuel Elements ◽

Type Fuel ◽

Plate Type

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Coupled Calculation on Fluid Structure Interaction in Plate-Type Fuel Element

Volume 8: Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD); Nuclear Education and Public Acceptance ◽

10.1115/icone26-82418 ◽

2018 ◽

Author(s):

Yiqi Yu ◽

Elia Merzari ◽

Jerome Solberg

Keyword(s):

Fuel Element ◽

Fluid Structure Interaction ◽

Initial Step ◽

University Of Missouri ◽

Fluid Structure ◽

Structure Interaction ◽

Coupled Calculation ◽

Enriched Uranium ◽

Type Fuel ◽

Plate Type

In nuclear reactors that use plate-type fuel, the fuel plates are thermally managed with coolant flowing through channels between the plates. Depending on the flow rates and sizes of the fluid channels, the hydraulic forces exerted on a plate can be quite large. Currently, there is a worldwide effort to convert research reactors that use highly enriched uranium (HEU) fuel, some of which are plate-type, to low-enriched uranium (LEU). Because of the proposed changes to the fuel structure and thickness, a need exists to characterize the potential for flow-induced deflection of the LEU fuel plates. In this study, as an initial step, calculations of Fluid-Structure Interaction (FSI) for a flat aluminum plate separating two parallel rectangular channels are performed using the commercial code STAR-CCM+ and the integrated multi-physics code SHARP, developed under the Nuclear Energy Advanced Modeling and Simulation program. SHARP contains the high-fidelity single physics packages Diablo and Nek5000, both highly scalable and extensively validated. In this work, verification studies are performed to assess the results from both STAR-CCM+ and SHARP. The predicted deflections of the plate agree well with each other as well as exhibiting good agreement with simulations performed by the University of Missouri utilizing STAR-CCM+ coupled with the commercial structural mechanics code ABAQUS. The study provides a solid basis for FSI modeling capability for plate-type fuel element with SHARP.

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