scholarly journals Thermal behavior analysis of PWR fuel during RIA at various fuel burnups using modified theatre code

2016 ◽  
Vol 31 (4) ◽  
pp. 307-317
Author(s):  
Amjad Nawaz ◽  
Yoshikawa Hidekazu ◽  
Ming Yang ◽  
Anwar Hussain

The fuel irradiation and burnup causes geometrical and dimensional changes in the fuel rod which affects its thermal resistance and ultimately affects the fuel rod behavior during steady-state and transient conditions. The consistent analysis of fuel rod thermal performance is essential for precise evaluation of reactor safety in operational transients and accidents. In this work, analysis of PWR fuel rod thermal performance is carried out under steady-state and transient conditions at different fuel burnups. The analysis is performed by using thermal hydraulic code, THEATRe. The code is modified by adding burnup dependent fuel rod behavior models. The original code uses as-fabricated fuel rod dimensions during steady-state and transient conditions which can be modified to perform more consistent reactor safety analysis. AP1000 reactor is considered as a reference reactor for this analysis. The effect of burnup on steady-state fuel rod parameters has been investigated. For transient analysis, hypothetical reactivity initiated accident was simulated by considering a triangular power pulse of variable pulse height (relative to the full power reactor operating conditions) and pulse width at different fuel burnups which corresponds to fresh fuel, low and medium burnup fuels. The effect of power pulse height, pulse width and fuel burnup on fuel rod temperatures has been investigated. The results of reactivity initiated accident analysis show that the fuel failure mechanisms are different for fresh fuel and fuel at different burnup levels. The fuel failure in fresh fuel is expected due to fuel melting as fuel temperature increases with increase in pulse energy (pulse height). However, at relatively higher burnups, the fuel failure is expected due to cladding failure caused by strong pellet clad mechanical interaction, where, the contact pressure increases beyond the cladding yield strength.

Author(s):  
Chenjie Qiu ◽  
Rong Liu ◽  
Wenzhong Zhou

Abstract The ThO2 fuel has higher thermal conductivity and melting boiling point than the UO2 fuel, which is beneficial to the fast removal of heat and the improvement of fuel melt margin. In this paper, the material properties and thermodynamic behaviors of thorium-based fuel were firstly reviewed. And then the thermal physical properties and the fuel behavior models of Th0.923U0.077O2 fuel and Th0.923Pu0.077O2 fuel have been implemented in fuel performance analysis code FRAPCON and FRAPTRAN. Finally, the performances of Th0.923U0.077O2 fuel, Th0.923Pu0.077O2 fuel and UO2 fuel under both normal operating conditions and transient conditions (RIA and LOCA) are analyzed and compared. The Th0.923U0.077O2 fuel is found to have lower fuel center-line temperature and the thorium-based fuels are observed to have a delayed pellet-cladding mechanical interaction (PCMI) under steady state. Furthermore, the fission gas release, cladding strain and internal fuel energy under transient conditions are found to be lower too. Lastly, the cladding displacement and temperature under transient conditions are also compared. The thorium-based fuel was found to have a higher safety margin and accident resistance than conventional UO2 fuel under both normal operating conditions and accident conditions.


Author(s):  
Victor Adrian Chiriac ◽  
Tien-Yu Tom Lee

A numerical study was conducted to model the transient thermal behavior of a complex testing system including multiple fans, a mixing enclosure, copper inserts and a leaded package dissipating large amounts of power over short time durations. The system is optimized by choosing appropriate heat sink/fan structure for the efficient operation of the device under constant powering. The intent of the study is to provide a better understanding and prediction of a transient powering scenario at high powering levels, while evaluating the impact of alternative cooling fan/heat pipe designs on the thermal performance of the testing system. One design is chosen due to its effective thermal performance and assembly simplicity, with the package embedded in heat sink base with multiple (5) heat pipes. The peak temperature reached by the modified design with 4 cooling fans is ~95°C, with the corresponding Rja thermal resistance ~0.58°C/W. For the transient study (with embedded heat pipes and 4 fans), after one cycle, both peak temperature (at 45 s) and the end temperature (at 49 s) decrease as compared to the previous no heat pipe/single fan case (the end temperature reduces by ~16%). The temperature drop between peak and end for each cycle is ~80.2°C, while the average power per transient cycle is ~31.27W. With this power, the design with 5 perpendicular heat pipes, 4 fans and insert reaches a steady state peak temperature of ~98°C. Applying the superposition principle to the steady state value and 40.1°C fluctuation, the maximum transient temperature after a large number of cycles will not exceed ~138.1°C, satisfying the thermal budget under the current operating conditions. The benefit of the study is related to the possibility to extract the maximum and minimum temperatures for a real test involving a large number of heating-cooling cycles, yet maintaining the initial and peak temperatures within a certain range for the optimal operation of the device. The flow and heat transfer fields are investigated; using a combination of numerical and analytical methods, the thermal performance of the device undergoing large number of periodic thermal cycles is predicted. The comparison between measurement and simulation shows good agreement.


2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (2B) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nikolas Lymberis Scuro ◽  
Pedro Ernesto Umbehaun ◽  
Edvaldo Angelo ◽  
Gabriel Angelo ◽  
Delvonei Alves de Andrade

After a loss of coolant accident (LOCA), fuel rods may balloon. The swelling can partially block the flow channel, affecting the coolability during reflood phase. In order to analyze the influence of blockage length, using a radial blockage of 90%, varying just the blockage length, many steady state numerical simulations has been done using Ansys-CFX code to verify thermal-hydraulic properties according to different forced cooled conditions. Temperature peaks are observed on cladding, followed by a temperature drop. A 5x5 fuel assembly, with 9 centered ballooned fuel rod, flow redistribution inside channels can also be captured, indicating an overheating zone. Therefore, this study conclude, for the same boundary conditions, the longer the blockage length originated after LOCA events, the higher are the clad temperatures, indicating the possibility of overheat during transient conditions on reflood.


2016 ◽  
Vol 68 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Chirag Trivedi ◽  
Michel J. Cervantes ◽  
Ole Gunnar Dahlhaug

Applications of computational fluid dynamic (CFD) techniques to hydropower have increased rapidly in the last three decades. The majority of the experimental investigations of hydraulic turbines were supported by numerical studies and this has become a standard practice. In the paper, applied numerical techniques and flow modeling approaches to simulate the hydraulic turbines are discussed. Both steady-state and transient operating conditions of the turbines are considered for the review. The steady-state conditions include the best efficiency point (BEP), high load (HL), and part load (PL). The transient conditions include load variation, startup, shutdown, and total load rejection. The performance of the applied numerical models and turbulence modeling with respect to the operating conditions are discussed. The recently developed numerical technique (transient blade row modeling) using the Fourier transformation (FT) method is discussed. This technique allows guide vane and blade passages to be modeled with the pitch ratio other than unity. Numerical modeling and simulation of hydraulic turbines during the transient operating conditions is one of the most challenging tasks because guide vanes' angular movement is time-dependent and mesh should be dynamic/moving. Different approaches applied to simulate the transient conditions and their limitations are discussed. Overall, this review summarizes the role of numerical techniques, advantages, limitations, and upcoming challenges within hydropower.


2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 43-53
Author(s):  
Abbas Jassem Jubear ◽  
Ali Hameed Abd

The heat sink with vertically rectangular interrupted fins was investigated numerically in a natural convection field, with steady-state heat transfer. A numerical study has been conducted using ANSYS Fluent software (R16.1) in order to develop a 3-D numerical model.  The dimensions of the fins are (305 mm length, 100 mm width, 17 mm height, and 9.5 mm space between fins. The number of fins used on the surface is eight. In this study, the heat input was used as follows: 20, 40, 60, 80, 100, and 120 watts. This study focused on interrupted rectangular fins with a different arrangement and angle of the fins. Results show that the addition of interruption in fins in various arrangements will improve the thermal performance of the heat sink, and through the results, a better interruption rate as an equation can be obtained.


1992 ◽  
Vol 26 (5-6) ◽  
pp. 1355-1363 ◽  
Author(s):  
C-W. Kim ◽  
H. Spanjers ◽  
A. Klapwijk

An on-line respiration meter is presented to monitor three types of respiration rates of activated sludge and to calculate effluent and influent short term biochemical oxygen demand (BODst) in the continuous activated sludge process. This work is to verify if the calculated BODst is reliable and the assumptions made in the course of developing the proposed procedure were acceptable. A mathematical model and a dynamic simulation program are written for an activated sludge model plant along with the respiration meter based on mass balances of BODst and DO. The simulation results show that the three types of respiration rate reach steady state within 15 minutes under reasonable operating conditions. As long as the respiration rate reaches steady state the proposed procedure calculates the respiration rate that is equal to the simulated. Under constant and dynamic BODst loading, the proposed procedure is capable of calculating the effluent and influent BODst with reasonable accuracy.


Author(s):  
Bassam A. Hemade ◽  
Hamed A. Ibrahim ◽  
Hossam E.A. Talaat

Background: The security assessment plays a crucial role in the operation of the modern interconnected power system network. Methods: Hence, this paper addresses the application of k-means clustering algorithm equipped with Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and silhouette analysis for the classification of system security states. The proposed technique works on three principal axes; the first stage involves contingency quantification based on developed insecurity indices, the second stage includes dataset preparation to enhance the overall performance of the proposed method using PCA and silhouette analysis, and finally the application of the clustering algorithm over data. Results: The proposed composite insecurity index uses available synchronized measurements from Phasor Measurement Units (PMUs) to assess the development of cascading outages. Considering different operational scenarios and multiple levels of contingencies (up to N-3), Fast Decoupled Power Flow (FDPF) have been used for contingency replications. The developed technique applied to IEEE 14-bus and 57-bus standard test system for steady-state security evaluation. Conclusion: The obtained results ensure the robustness and effectiveness of the established procedure in the assessment of the system security irrespective of the network size or operating conditions.


1986 ◽  
Vol 51 (11) ◽  
pp. 2481-2488
Author(s):  
Benitto Mayrhofer ◽  
Jana Mayrhoferová ◽  
Lubomír Neužil ◽  
Jaroslav Nývlt

The paper presents a simple model of recrystallization with countercurrent flows of the solution and the crystals being purified. The model assumes steady-state operating conditions, an equilibrium between the outlet streams of each stage, and the same equilibrium temperature and distribution coefficient for all stages. With these assumptions, the model provides the basis for analyzing the variation in the degree of purity as a function of the number of recrystallization stages. The analysis is facilitated by the use of a diagram constructed for the limiting case of perfect removal of the mother liquor from the crystals between the stages.


2015 ◽  
Vol 735 ◽  
pp. 294-298 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wei Ying Lai ◽  
Nurfarahin Onn ◽  
Collin Howe Hing Tang ◽  
Mohamed Hussein

Hydraulic actuators are widely employed for industrial automation for its high power over weight ratio, functionality in tough operating conditions and low cost. However, the dynamics of hydraulic systems are non-linear and the system subjected to non-smooth and discontinuous non-linearities due to directional change of valve opening, friction, valve overlap and changes of hydraulic pressure acted on valve spool. Taking into account the effect of nonlinear parameter variations such as bulk modulus, compressibility of oil or viscosity of oil, fuzzy logic approach is chosen. Fuzzy control can adapt the inconstant working condition and non-linear system alongside of its robustness. For PWM controlled hydraulic component such as solenoid valve, effective approximation of the flow properties in a solenoid valve is essential. In this paper, the effect of fuzzy logic approach incorporated on pulse width modulation (PWM) controlled hydraulic system is to be investigated and experimentally verified.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document