General formulation of an HCDA bubble rising in a sodium pool and the effect of nonequilibrium on fuel transport
Consideration is given to a fuel-dominated bubble, which is assumed to have just penetrated into the sodium pool in a spherical form subsequent to a hypothetical core disruptive accident. The two-phase bubble mixture is formulated as it rises through the sodium pool to the cover-gas region. The formulation takes into account the effects of the nonequilibrium mass transfer at the interfaces and of the radiative cooling of the bubble as well as the kinematic, dynamic, and thermal effects of the surrounding fields. The results of calculation for the amount of the fuel vapor condensed before the bubble reaches the cover-gas region are presented over a wide possible range of the evaporation coefficient as well as the liquid sodium-bubble interface absorbtivity. It is shown that the effects of nonequilibrium mass transfer become more meaningful at the later stage of bubble rise where the temperature difference between the liquid fuel and the gaseous mixture has been increase. The thermal radiative cooling is found to be very effective in attenuating the fuel content of the bubble; depending on the value of the liquid sodium-bubble absorbtivity, a great reduction of fuel vapor can result. Consequently, if the condensed fuel falls out of the bubble, the thermal radiation, which condenses out most of the fuel vapor, can effectively prevent and eliminate most of the fuel leakage from the reactor vessel.
- Research Organization:
- University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Mechanical Engineering Department, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
- OSTI ID:
- 6474583
- Journal Information:
- Nucl. Technol.; (United States), Vol. 3:1
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
General formulation of an HCDA bubble rising in a sodium pool and the effect of nonequilibrium on fuel transport
General formulation of an HCDA bubble rising in a sodium pool and the effect of nonequilibrium on fuel transport. [LMFBR]
Related Subjects
REACTOR COOLING SYSTEMS
BUBBLES
SODIUM COOLED REACTORS
FUEL-COOLANT INTERACTIONS
REACTOR CORE DISRUPTION
COVER GAS
EQUILIBRIUM
MASS TRANSFER
RADIATIVE COOLING
REACTOR SAFETY
THERMAL RADIATION
VAPOR CONDENSATION
ACCIDENTS
COOLING
COOLING SYSTEMS
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
ENERGY SYSTEMS
FLUIDS
GASES
INERT ATMOSPHERE
LIQUID METAL COOLED REACTORS
RADIATIONS
REACTOR ACCIDENTS
REACTOR COMPONENTS
REACTORS
SAFETY
220900* - Nuclear Reactor Technology- Reactor Safety