Interface capturing simulations of bubble population effects in PWR subchannels

Cambareri, Joseph J.; Fang, Jun; Bolotnov, Igor A.

doi:10.1016/j.nucengdes.2020.110709

Interface capturing simulations of bubble population effects in PWR subchannels

Journal Article · Tue Jun 09 00:00:00 EDT 2020 · Nuclear Engineering and Design

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nucengdes.2020.110709· OSTI ID:1770592

Cambareri, Joseph J. ^[1]; ^[2]; ^[1]

North Carolina State Univ., Raleigh, NC (United States)
Argonne National Lab. (ANL), Argonne, IL (United States). Nuclear Engineering Division

As the computational power of high-performance computing (HPC) facilities grows, so too does the feasibility of using first principle based simulation to study turbulent two-phase flows within complex pressurized water reactor (PWR) geometries. Direct numerical simulation (DNS), integrated with an interface capturing method, allows for the collection of high-fidelity numerical data using advanced analysis techniques. The research presented here employs the massively parallel, finite-element based, unstructured mesh code, PHASTA, to simulate a set of two-phase bubbly flows through PWR subchannel geometries including auxiliary structures (spacer grids and mixing vanes). The main objective of the presented work is to analyze bubble dynamics and turbulence interactions at varying bubble concentrations to support the development of advanced two-phase flow closure models. Turbulent two-phase flows in PWR subchannels were simulated at hydraulic Reynolds numbers of 81,000 with bubble concentrations of 3%–15% by gas volume fraction (768–3928 resolved bubbles, respectively) and compared against a 1% void fraction case (262 bubbles) that had been previously simulated. The finite element mesh utilized for the study at higher bubble concentrations was composed of 1.55 billion elements, compared to the previous study which employed 1.11 billion elements, ensuring all turbulence scales and individual bubbles within the flow are fully resolved. For each case, the resolved initial bubble size was 0.65 mm in diameter (resolved with 25 grid points across the diameter). The simulations were analyzed to find flow features such as the mean velocity profile, bubble relative velocity and the effect of the bubbles on the turbulent conditions.

View Accepted Manuscript (DOE)

Research Organization:: Argonne National Laboratory (ANL), Argonne, IL (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE Office of Nuclear Energy (NE); USDOE Office of Science (SC)

Grant/Contract Number:: AC02-06CH11357; AC05-00OR22725

OSTI ID:: 1770592

Alternate ID(s):: OSTI ID: 1691969

Journal Information:: Nuclear Engineering and Design, Journal Name: Nuclear Engineering and Design Vol. 365; ISSN 0029-5493

Publisher:: ElsevierCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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