Surrogate materials options for single phase conjugate heat transfer scaled experiments of light water reactors at prototypical conditions
- The Georges Washington University, Science and Engineering Hall, 800 22nd St NW, Washington, DC 20052 (United States)
In light water reactors, the conjugate heat transfer between heating rods and cooling water is a problem of paramount importance that has been studied for decades. The design of nuclear reactors depends on correlations for the heat transfer coefficient between heat source and coolant, and experimental studies are needed to improve the existing correlations, develop new ones that are adapted to the new reactors designed and their components, and develop high fidelity turbulence models. No studies have been carried out yet at prototypical conditions where the liquid velocity and temperature fields are measured, because of the difficulty to find instruments that can resist the extreme operating conditions. Here, two surrogate gases, sulfur hexafluoride and cryogenic nitrogen, are proposed to conduct conjugate heat transfer experiments at prototypical conditions. Surrogate structural materials are also investigated to favorably reproduce conjugate heat transfer for steady and transient operations. The operating conditions are now less demanding than high-pressure, high-temperature water, which allows the deployment of many proven diagnostics. To demonstrate these surrogate materials, a sample scaling analysis is applied to one pressurized water reactor fuel rod under axial flow and vibrations, showing a very close matching between prototype and model for the conjugate heat transfer. (authors)
- Research Organization:
- American Nuclear Society - ANS, Thermal Hydraulics Division, 555 North Kensington Avenue, La Grange Park, IL 60526 (United States)
- OSTI ID:
- 22977492
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: ATH 16: International Topical Meeting on Advances in Thermal Hydraulics, New Orleans, LA (United States), 12-16 Jun 2016; Other Information: Country of input: France; 18 refs.; available on CD Rom from American Nuclear Society - ANS, 555 North Kensington Avenue, La Grange Park, IL 60526 (United States)
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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