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Title: Thermocouple signal sensitivity to the sheath thickness of thermal-hydraulic test facility indirectly heated electric fuel pin simulators

Technical Report ·
OSTI ID:5392109

Analysis of data in large loss-of-coolant accident experimental facilities often requires extensive use of signals recorded from thermocouples embedded in indirectly heated electric fuel pin simulators (EFPS). These signals, converted to temperature, are used in the numerical determination of EFPS experimental conditions, inclusing transient surface temperature, transient surface heat flux, and transient internal radial temperature distribution. Important points that arise in uding the recorded thermocouple signals as a basis for subsequent analysis include (1) the effect of the distance that the thermocouple bead is located from the EFPS surface on the ability of the thermocouple to resolve rapidly changing boundary phenomena and (2) the extent that this depth influences the time response associated with the thermocouple. Several numerically solved EFPS transients (where boundary conditions were specified, and surface temperature, surface heat flux, and internal radial temperature histories were subsequently calculated) are presented in an effort to establish these two relationships and to form a foundation for recommending designs which will minimize the adverse effects of these relationships by specifying optimal thermocouple radial positions in future EFPSs.

Research Organization:
Oak Ridge National Lab., TN (USA)
DOE Contract Number:
AC05-84OR21400
OSTI ID:
5392109
Report Number(s):
NUREG/CR-1347; ORNL/NUREG-62; ON: TI85015942
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English