Heat transfer within spent fuel canisters: Phase two of an experimental laboratory study
The primary goal of this research was to develop a generalized correlation for convective heat transfer coefficients in rod bundles such as those encountered in the storage and disposal of spent nuclear fuel. The results of the study provide data relevant to design and performance assessment of spent fuel packages as part of the Civilian Radioactive Waste Management Program. In a series of laboratory experiments, heat transfer and temperature distributions were measured in a vertical annulus, and in 3 x 3 and 5 x 5 vertical rod bundles. A correlation was developed relating Nusselt numbers to Rayleigh numbers, radius ratios, aspect ratios, and pitch-to-diameter ratios. In the annulus experiments with a fixed Rayleigh number, an increase in the Prandtl number resulted in a reduction in the Nusselt number. This is inconsistent with findings that have been reported for vertical cavities, and was attributed to curvature effects. The effect of the Prandtl number in the vertical rod bundle experiments was similar to that in the annulus case. Application of a generalized heat transfer correlation to a pressurized-water-reactor fuel-rod bundle predicted maximum rod temperature to within 4 to 14% of results obtained in field tests with a full-scale fuel-rod bundle of 15 x 15 rods. 32 refs., 51 figs., 4 tabs.
- Research Organization:
- Ohio State Univ., Columbus (USA); Battelle Memorial Inst., Columbus, OH (USA). Office of Nuclear Waste Isolation
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC02-83CH10140
- OSTI ID:
- 6529088
- Report Number(s):
- BMI/ONWI-530; ON: DE87011007
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE WASTES FROM NUCLEAR FACILITIES
AIR
ATMOSPHERES
CASKS
CONTAINERS
CONTROLLED ATMOSPHERES
CONVECTION
CORRELATIONS
DATA
ELEMENTS
ENERGY TRANSFER
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
FLUIDS
GASES
HEAT TRANSFER
HELIUM
HIGH-LEVEL RADIOACTIVE WASTES
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
INFORMATION
MASS TRANSFER
MATERIALS
NONMETALS
NUMERICAL DATA
NUSSELT NUMBER
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PRANDTL NUMBER
PRESSURIZING
RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS
RADIOACTIVE WASTES
RARE GASES
SPENT FUEL CASKS
WASTES
WATER