An Overview of Modeling Methods for Thermal Mixing and Stratification in Large Enclosures for Reactor Safety Analysis

An Overview of Modeling Methods for Thermal Mixing and Stratification in Large Enclosures for Reactor Safety Analysis PDF Author:
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Category :
Languages : en
Pages :

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Thermal mixing and stratification phenomena play major roles in the safety of reactor systems with large enclosures, such as containment safety in current fleet of LWRs, long-term passive containment cooling in Gen III+ plants including AP-1000 and ESBWR, the cold and hot pool mixing in pool type sodium cooled fast reactor systems (SFR), and reactor cavity cooling system behavior in high temperature gas cooled reactors (HTGR), etc. Depending on the fidelity requirement and computational resources, 0-D steady state models (heat transfer correlations), 0-D lumped parameter based transient models, 1-D physical-based coarse grain models, and 3-D CFD models are available. Current major system analysis codes either have no models or only 0-D models for thermal stratification and mixing, which can only give highly approximate results for simple cases. While 3-D CFD methods can be used to analyze simple configurations, these methods require very fine grid resolution to resolve thin substructures such as jets and wall boundaries. Due to prohibitive computational expenses for long transients in very large volumes, 3-D CFD simulations remain impractical for system analyses. For mixing in stably stratified large enclosures, UC Berkeley developed 1-D models basing on Zuber's hierarchical two-tiered scaling analysis (HTTSA) method where the ambient fluid volume is represented by 1-D transient partial differential equations and substructures such as free or wall jets are modeled with 1-D integral models. This allows very large reductions in computational effort compared to 3-D CFD modeling. This paper will present an overview on important thermal mixing and stratification phenomena in large enclosures for different reactors, major modeling methods and their advantages and limits, potential paths to improve simulation capability and reduce analysis uncertainty in this area for advanced reactor system analysis tools.

An Overview of Modeling Methods for Thermal Mixing and Stratification in Large Enclosures for Reactor Safety Analysis

An Overview of Modeling Methods for Thermal Mixing and Stratification in Large Enclosures for Reactor Safety Analysis PDF Author:
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages :

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Book Description
Thermal mixing and stratification phenomena play major roles in the safety of reactor systems with large enclosures, such as containment safety in current fleet of LWRs, long-term passive containment cooling in Gen III+ plants including AP-1000 and ESBWR, the cold and hot pool mixing in pool type sodium cooled fast reactor systems (SFR), and reactor cavity cooling system behavior in high temperature gas cooled reactors (HTGR), etc. Depending on the fidelity requirement and computational resources, 0-D steady state models (heat transfer correlations), 0-D lumped parameter based transient models, 1-D physical-based coarse grain models, and 3-D CFD models are available. Current major system analysis codes either have no models or only 0-D models for thermal stratification and mixing, which can only give highly approximate results for simple cases. While 3-D CFD methods can be used to analyze simple configurations, these methods require very fine grid resolution to resolve thin substructures such as jets and wall boundaries. Due to prohibitive computational expenses for long transients in very large volumes, 3-D CFD simulations remain impractical for system analyses. For mixing in stably stratified large enclosures, UC Berkeley developed 1-D models basing on Zuber's hierarchical two-tiered scaling analysis (HTTSA) method where the ambient fluid volume is represented by 1-D transient partial differential equations and substructures such as free or wall jets are modeled with 1-D integral models. This allows very large reductions in computational effort compared to 3-D CFD modeling. This paper will present an overview on important thermal mixing and stratification phenomena in large enclosures for different reactors, major modeling methods and their advantages and limits, potential paths to improve simulation capability and reduce analysis uncertainty in this area for advanced reactor system analysis tools.

One-Dimensional Analysis of Thermal Stratification in AHTR and SFR Coolant Pools

One-Dimensional Analysis of Thermal Stratification in AHTR and SFR Coolant Pools PDF Author:
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Category :
Languages : en
Pages :

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Book Description
Thermal stratification phenomena are very common in pool type reactor systems, such as the liquid-salt cooled Advanced High Temperature Reactor (AHTR) and liquid-metal cooled fast reactor systems such as the Sodium Fast Reactor (SFR). It is important to accurately predict the temperature and density distributions both for design optimation and accident analysis. Current major reactor system analysis codes such as RELAP5 (for LWR's, and recently extended to analyze high temperature reactors), TRAC (for LWR's), and SASSYS (for liquid metal fast reactors) only provide lumped-volume based models which can only give very approximate results and can only handle simple cases with one mixing source. While 2-D or 3-D CFD methods can be used to analyze simple configurations, these methods require very fine grid resolution to resolve thin substructures such as jets and wall boundaries, yet such fine grid resolution is difficult or impossible to provide for studying the reactor response to transients due to computational expense. Therefore, new methods are needed to support design optimization and safety analysis of Generation IV pool type reactor systems. Previous scaling has shown that stratified mixing processes in large stably stratified enclosures can be described using one-dimensional differential equations, with the vertical transport by free and wall jets modeled using standard integral techniques. This allows very large reductions in computational effort compared to three-dimensional numerical modeling of turbulent mixing in large enclosures. The BMIX++ (Berkeley mechanistic MIXing code in C++) code was originally developed at UC Berkeley to implement such ideas. This code solves mixing and heat transfer problems in stably stratified enclosures. The code uses a Lagrangian approach to solve 1-D transient governing equations for the ambient fluid and uses analytical or 1-D integral models to compute substructures. By including liquid salt properties, BMIX++ code is extended to analyze liquid salt pool systems in the current AHTR design, to provide an example of its application. Similar analysis is possible for liquid-metal cooled reactors. The current AHTR baseline design uses a large buffer salt tank to provide more thermal inertial and safety margin. Reactor vessel, intermediate heat exchangers, pool reactor auxiliary cooling system heat exchangers (PHX), and direct reactor auxiliary cooling system heat exchangers (DHX) are all immerged in the buffer salt pool. These structures provide major driving sources for vertical mixing and thermal stratification. Predication of the temperature distribution within the buffer salt tank directly affects the major safety systems design, such as the PHX and DHX, safety analysis results, and structure thermal stresses analysis. The BMIX++ code is used to predict mixing and thermal stratification in this pool system. This example shows the potential of 1-D analysis methods and BMIX++ to be included in system analysis codes for pool type of Gen-IV reactor systems.

An Efficient Modeling Method for Thermal Stratification Simulation in a BWR Suppression Pool

An Efficient Modeling Method for Thermal Stratification Simulation in a BWR Suppression Pool PDF Author:
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Category :
Languages : en
Pages :

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Book Description
The suppression pool in a BWR plant not only is the major heat sink within the containment system, but also provides major emergency cooling water for the reactor core. In several accident scenarios, such as LOCA and extended station blackout, thermal stratification tends to form in the pool after the initial rapid venting stage. Accurately predicting the pool stratification phenomenon is important because it affects the peak containment pressure; and the pool temperature distribution also affects the NPSHa (Available Net Positive Suction Head) and therefore the performance of the pump which draws cooling water back to the core. Current safety analysis codes use 0-D lumped parameter methods to calculate the energy and mass balance in the pool and therefore have large uncertainty in prediction of scenarios in which stratification and mixing are important. While 3-D CFD methods can be used to analyze realistic 3D configurations, these methods normally require very fine grid resolution to resolve thin substructures such as jets and wall boundaries, therefore long simulation time. For mixing in stably stratified large enclosures, the BMIX++ code has been developed to implement a highly efficient analysis method for stratification where the ambient fluid volume is represented by 1-D transient partial differential equations and substructures such as free or wall jets are modeled with 1-D integral models. This allows very large reductions in computational effort compared to 3-D CFD modeling. The POOLEX experiments at Finland, which was designed to study phenomena relevant to Nordic design BWR suppression pool including thermal stratification and mixing, are used for validation. GOTHIC lumped parameter models are used to obtain boundary conditions for BMIX++ code and CFD simulations. Comparison between the BMIX++, GOTHIC, and CFD calculations against the POOLEX experimental data is discussed in detail.

Nuclear Power Plant Design and Analysis Codes

Nuclear Power Plant Design and Analysis Codes PDF Author: Jun Wang
Publisher: Woodhead Publishing
ISBN: 0128181915
Category : Technology & Engineering
Languages : en
Pages : 612

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Book Description
Nuclear Power Plant Design and Analysis Codes: Development, Validation, and Application presents the latest research on the most widely used nuclear codes and the wealth of successful accomplishments which have been achieved over the past decades by experts in the field. Editors Wang, Li,Allison, and Hohorst and their team of authors provide readers with a comprehensive understanding of nuclear code development and how to apply it to their work and research to make their energy production more flexible, economical, reliable and safe.Written in an accessible and practical way, each chapter considers strengths and limitations, data availability needs, verification and validation methodologies and quality assurance guidelines to develop thorough and robust models and simulation tools both inside and outside a nuclear setting. This book benefits those working in nuclear reactor physics and thermal-hydraulics, as well as those involved in nuclear reactor licensing. It also provides early career researchers with a solid understanding of fundamental knowledge of mainstream nuclear modelling codes, as well as the more experienced engineers seeking advanced information on the best solutions to suit their needs. - Captures important research conducted over last few decades by experts and allows new researchers and professionals to learn from the work of their predecessors - Presents the most recent updates and developments, including the capabilities, limitations, and future development needs of all codes - Incudes applications for each code to ensure readers have complete knowledge to apply to their own setting

Thermal Stratification in Large Pools of Sodium

Thermal Stratification in Large Pools of Sodium PDF Author: James Alexander Schneider
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 161

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Book Description
Sodium fast reactors are poised to be a leading candidate for the next generation of commercial reactor deployment. Companies are commissioning designs for sodium fast reactors increasing the need for experimental and computational analysis to improve the economics and safety of these reactors. Analysis of Sodium Fast Reactor (SFR) behavior during reactor transients is very important to the understanding of reactor safety. Currently, there exists several gaps in knowledge when examining reactor transients in SFRs. Specifically, there is an increased curiosity in using modern experimental and computational technology to simulate the loss of flow reactor transient. During a loss of flow transient pumping power is lost to the primary coolant system. When this unlikely event occurs in a pool-type SFR thermally stratified layers can form in the reactor pool. This thermal stratification in the SFR pool can cause cyclic thermal fatigue on the reactor vessel. This stress can potentially leading to crack formation and weld failure in the reactor vessel. Research on thermal stratification has largely been computational as the capabilities of measurement equipment have been not sufficient for experimental investigations. This thesis focuses on demonstrating the reliability of novel temperature measurement techniques for thermal stratification in a scaled pool-type reactor. With reliable temperature measurements, numerous investigations were completed in order to further understand thermal stratification in a reactor pool. These investigations include: quantifying thermal stratification, investigating the influence of upper internal structure geometry on the persistence of thermal stratification, and using the collected data to tune a 1D stratification model.

Numerical Modeling of Mixing in Large Stably Stratified Enclosures Using TRACMIX++

Numerical Modeling of Mixing in Large Stably Stratified Enclosures Using TRACMIX++ PDF Author: Jakob Christensen
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 788

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Proceedings of the 12th International Conference on Nuclear Engineering (ICONE12)--2004: Safety and security. Fuel cycle and high level waste management. Thermal hydraulics

Proceedings of the 12th International Conference on Nuclear Engineering (ICONE12)--2004: Safety and security. Fuel cycle and high level waste management. Thermal hydraulics PDF Author:
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Nuclear engineering
Languages : en
Pages : 902

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Book Description


Multiphase Flow and Heat Transfer in Pebble Bed Reactor Core

Multiphase Flow and Heat Transfer in Pebble Bed Reactor Core PDF Author: Shengyao Jiang
Publisher: Springer Nature
ISBN: 9811595658
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 510

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Book Description
This book introduces readers to gas flows and heat transfer in pebble bed reactor cores. It addresses fundamental issues regarding experimental and modeling methods for complex multiphase systems, as well as relevant applications and recent research advances. The numerical methods and experimental measurements/techniques used to solve pebble flows, as well as the content on radiation modeling for high-temperature pebble beds, will be of particular interest. This book is intended for a broad readership, including researchers and practitioners, and is sure to become a key reference resource for students and professionals alike.

Advances of Computational Fluid Dynamics in Nuclear Reactor Design and Safety Assessment

Advances of Computational Fluid Dynamics in Nuclear Reactor Design and Safety Assessment PDF Author: Jyeshtharaj Joshi
Publisher: Woodhead Publishing
ISBN: 0081023383
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 890

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Book Description
Advances of Computational Fluid Dynamics in Nuclear Reactor Design and Safety Assessment presents the latest computational fluid dynamic technologies. It includes an evaluation of safety systems for reactors using CFD and their design, the modeling of Severe Accident Phenomena Using CFD, Model Development for Two-phase Flows, and Applications for Sodium and Molten Salt Reactor Designs. Editors Joshi and Nayak have an invaluable wealth of experience that enables them to comment on the development of CFD models, the technologies currently in practice, and the future of CFD in nuclear reactors. Readers will find a thematic discussion on each aspect of CFD applications for the design and safety assessment of Gen II to Gen IV reactor concepts that will help them develop cost reduction strategies for nuclear power plants. - Presents a thematic and comprehensive discussion on each aspect of CFD applications for the design and safety assessment of nuclear reactors - Provides an historical review of the development of CFD models, discusses state-of-the-art concepts, and takes an applied and analytic look toward the future - Includes CFD tools and simulations to advise and guide the reader through enhancing cost effectiveness, safety and performance optimization

Two-phase Transport & Reactor Safety

Two-phase Transport & Reactor Safety PDF Author: T. Nejat Veziroğlu
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Heat
Languages : en
Pages : 456

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Book Description