Advanced two-phase subchannel method via non-linear iteration

Journal Article · Fri Apr 21 00:00:00 EDT 2023 · Nuclear Engineering and Design

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nucengdes.2023.112328· OSTI ID:1994741

Kropaczek, David J. ^[1]; Salko, Jr., Robert K. ^[1]; Hizoum, Belgacem ^[1]; Collins, Benjamin S. ^[2]

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1. Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
2. Univ. of Texas, Austin, TX (United States)

A fast-running, robust two-phase flow, sub-channel model is presented based on non-linear solution of the steady-state subchannel fluid flow equations. The drift-flux model solves for conservation of liquid and vapor mass, mixture energy, and axial and transverse mixture momentum as part of an efficient planar marching scheme and nonlinear, nested outer and inner iteration. Here, models based on mechanistic subcooled boiling, two-phase turbulent void mixing, and drift are included. Solution verification and mesh convergence studies were performed for modern GE 10 × 10 fuel geometry and are shown to have excellent convergence behavior. Run time performance for a 50 axial mesh model showed 2.2 seconds on a single CPU core to tightly converge all 3D distributions (flow, void, pressure) for the GE 10 × 10 fuel geometry, supporting its efficient use within the Virtual Environment for Reactor Applications boiling water reactor framework.

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE Office of Nuclear Energy (NE), Nuclear Energy Advanced Modeling and Simulation (NEAMS)
• Grant/Contract Number: AC05-00OR22725
• OSTI ID: 1994741
• Journal Information: Nuclear Engineering and Design, Journal Name: Nuclear Engineering and Design Journal Issue: 1 Vol. 408; ISSN 0029-5493
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS
BWR
VERA
subchannel
two-phase