Application of CFD Model for Inlet Flow Region of 17×17 Fuel Assembly

A numerical investigation was performed to study the variation in axial and lateral velocity profiles occurring downstream of the inlet nozzle of a typical Westinghouse 17×17 PWR fuel assembly. A Computational Fluid Dynamic (CFD) model was developed with commercial CFD software. The model comprised the lower region of the fuel assembly, including: the Debris Filter Bottom Nozzle (DFBN), P-grid, Bottom Inconel grid, one and half grid span, as well as the lower core plate hole. The purpose of the study was to obtain insight into the flow redistribution resulting from the interaction of the jet arising from the lower core plate hole and the fuel assembly structure. In particular the axial and lateral velocities before and after the nozzle were studied. The results, axial and lateral velocity contours, streamlines and maximum axial and lateral velocity distributions at various elevations are presented and discussed in relation to the potential risk of high turbulent excitation over the rod and the resulting rod-to-grid fretting-wear damage. The CFD model results indicated that the large jet flows from the lower core plate are effectively dissipated by DFBN nozzle and the grids components of the fuel assembly. The breakup of the large jets in the DFBN and the lower grids helps to reduce the steep velocity gradients and thus the rod vibration and fretting-wear risk in the lower part of the fuel assembly. The presented CFD model is one step towards developing advanced tools that can be used to confirm and evaluate the effect of complex PWR structures on flow distribution. In the future the presented model could be integrated in a larger CFD model involving several fuel assemblies for evaluating the lateral velocities generated due to the non-uniform inlet conditions into the various fuel assemblies.

Simultaneous Measurement of Temperature and Velocity in Turbulent Buoyant Plume by Combined LIF and PIV Technique

An experimental technique for simultaneous measurement of temperature and velocity in a thermal flow is described. This technique is based on the two-color laser-induced fluorescence technique combined with the particle image velocimetry. Illumination is provided from Nd:YAG laser and the fluorescent dyes are chosen as Rhodamine B and Fluorescent Sodium, which combination allows the accurate velocity measurement in a wide range of flow velocity and high temperature sensitivity in temperature measurement. The measurement of temperature and velocity in turbulent buoyant plume is carried out by this method, and the structure of the plume is studied in connection with the entrainment of surrounding fluid at the interface.

Numerical Experiments of Coolant Mixing in a Lower Plenum of PWR Under Asymmetric Thermal- Hydraulics Conditions

Asymmetric thermal-hydraulic conditions among primary loops during a postulated steam line break (SLB) induce a non-uniform temperature distribution at a core inlet. When coolant of lower temperature intrudes into a part of core, it leads to a reactivity insertion and a local power increase. Therefore, an appropriate model for the core inlet temperature distribution is required for a realistic SLB analysis. In this study, numerical experiments were conducted to examine the core inlet temperature distribution under the asymmetric thermal-hydraulic coolant conditions among primary loops. 3D steady-state calculations were carried out for Japanese standard Pressurized Water Reactor (PWR) such as 2, 3, 4 loop types and an advanced PWR. Since the flow in a reactor vessel involves time-dependent velocity fluctuations due to a high Reynolds number condition and a complicated geometry of flow path, the turbulent mixing might be enhanced. Hence, the turbulent thermal diffusivity for the steady-state calculation was examined based on experimental results and another transient calculation. As a result, it was confirmed that (1) the turbulent mixing in a downcomer and a lower plenum were enhanced due to time-dependent velocity fluctuations and therefore the turbulent thermal diffusivity for steady-state calculation was specified to be greater, (2) the core inlet temperature distribution predicted by a steady-state calculation reasonably agreed with a experimental data, (3) the patterns of core inlet temperature distribution were comprehended to be dependent on the plant type, i.e. the number of primary loop and (4) under a low flow rate condition, the coolant of lower temperature appeared on the opposite side of the affected loop due to the effect of a natural convection.

Simulation of Strongly Heated Internal Gas Flows Using a Near-Wall Two-Equation Heat Flux Model

A two-equation k-ω model is used to model a strongly heated, low-Mach number gas flowing upward in a vertical tube. Heating causes significant property variation and thickening of the viscous sublayer, consequently a fully developed flow does not evolve. Two-equation turbulence models generally perform poorly under such conditions. Consequently, in the present work, a near-wall two-equation heat transfer model is utilized in conjunction with the k-ω model to improve heat transfer predictions.

Study on Off-Design Steady State Performances of Helium Gas Turbocompressor for HTGR-GT

The high temperature gas-cooled reactor (HTGR) coupled with direct gas turbine cycle is a promising concept in the future of nuclear power development. Both helium gas turbine and compressor are key components in the cycle. Under normal conditions, the mode of power adjustment is to control total helium mass in the primary loop using gas storage vessels. Meanwhile, thermal power of reactor core is regulated. This article analyzes off-design performances of helium gas turbine and compressors for high temperature gas-cooled reactor with gas turbine cycle (HTGR-GT) at steady state level of electric power adjustment. Moreover, performances of the cycle were simply discussed. Results show that the expansion ratio of turbine decreases as electric power reduces but the compression ratios of compressors increase, efficiencies of both turbine and compressors decrease to some extent. Thermal power does not vary consistently with electric power, the difference between these two powers increases as electric power reduces. As a result of much thermal energy dissipated in the temperature modulator set at core inlet, thermal efficiency of the cycle has a widely reduction under partial load conditions.

Modified Phenomena Identification and Ranking Table (PIRT) for Uncertainty Analysis

This paper describes a methodology of characterizing important phenomena, which is also part of a broader research by the authors called “Modified PIRT”. The methodology provides robust process of phenomena identification and ranking process for more precise quantification of uncertainty. It is a two-step process of identifying and ranking methodology based on thermal-hydraulics (TH) importance as well as uncertainty importance. Analytical Hierarchical Process (AHP) has been used for as a formal approach for TH identification and ranking. Formal uncertainty importance technique is used to estimate the degree of credibility of the TH model(s) used to represent the important phenomena. This part uses subjective justification by evaluating available information and data from experiments, and code predictions. The proposed methodology was demonstrated by developing a PIRT for large break loss of coolant accident LBLOCA for the LOFT integral facility with highest core power (test LB-1).

On the Modeling of Local Neutronically-Coupled Flow-Induced Oscillations in Advanced Boiling Water Reactors

The purpose of this paper is to discuss the development in progress of a complete space- and time-dependent model of the coupled neutron kinetic and reactor thermal-hydraulics. The neutron kinetics model is based on two-group diffusion equations with Doppler and void reactivity feedback effects. This model is coupled with the model of two-phase flow and heat transfer in parallel coolant channels. The modeling concepts considered for this purpose include one-dimensional drift flux and two-fluid models, as well a CFD model implemented in the NPHASE advanced computational multiphase fluid dynamics (CMFD) computer code. Two methods of solution for the overall model are proposed. One is based on direct numerical integration of the spatially-discretized governing equations. The other approach is based on a quasi-analytical modal approach to the neutronics model, in which a complete set of eigenvectors is found for step-wise temporal changes of the cross-sections of core materials (fuel and coolant/moderator). The issues investigated in the paper include details of model formulation, as well as the results of calculations for neutronically-coupled density-wave oscillations.

CFD Analysis of the Active Part of the HYPER Spallation Target

KAERI (Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute) is developing an accelerator driven system (ADS) named HYPER (HYbrid Power Extraction Reactor) for a transmutation of long-lived nuclear wastes. One of the challenging tasks for the HYPER system is to design a large spallation target having a beam power of 15∼25 MW. The present paper focuses on the thermal-hydraulic performance of the active part of the HYPER target. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analysis was performed using a commercial code CFX 5.7.1. Several advanced turbulence models with different grid structures were applied. The CFX results show the significant impact of the turbulence model on the window temperature. It is concluded that experimental verifications are very important for the design of the HYPER target.

A Techno-Economic Optimization of the Power Conversion System of a Very High Temperature Reactor

Generation IV nuclear reactors will not be implemented unless they enable lower production costs than with the current systems. In such a context a techno-economic optimization method was developed and then applied to the power conversion system of a very high temperature reactor. Techno-economic optimization consists in minimizing an objective function that depends on technical variables and economic ones. The advantage of the techno-economic optimization is that it can take into account both investment costs and operating costs. A techno-economic model was implemented in a specific optimization software named Vizir, which is based on genetic algorithms. The calculation of the thermodynamic cycle is performed by a software named Tugaz. The results are the values of the decision variables that lead to a minimum cost, according to the model. The total production cost is evaluated. The influence of the various variables and constraints is also pointed out.

Water Hammer Analysis of an Emergency Cooling System With the Presence of Air

In this paper the effect of air presence in an emergency cooling system of a nuclear power plant during the pipelines pressurization stage is analyzed. The pressure waves propagation along the system pipelines after a fast pressurization of the water tanks is considered. The presence of different amounts of air in one pipe is analyzed. A code was developed to simulate the pressure waves propagation in the system. This code uses the classical Method of Characteristics (MOC) solving the mass and momentum equations. The two phase homogeneous model was used to represent the two-phase mixture in the pipe with presence of air. The maximal pressure in each pipe is calculated for the presence of different amounts of air in one pipe and a time ramp of 0.50 seconds for the operations of valves. The influence of the presence of air in the system is shown.