Prediction of flow recirculation in a blanket assembly under worst-case natural-convection conditions. [LMFBR]

Conference · Tue Jun 29 04:00:00 EDT 1982

OSTI ID:6547204

Khan, E U; Rector, D R

Reactor fuel and blanket assemblies within a Liquid Metal Fast Breeder Reactor (LMFBR) can be subjected to severe radial heat flux gradients. At low-flow conditions, with power-to-flow ratios of nearly the same magnitude as design conditions, buoyancy forces cause flow redistribution to the side of a bundle with the higher heat generation rate. Recirculation of fluid within a rod bundle can occur during a natural convection transient because of the combined effect of flow coastdown and buoyancy-induced redistribution. An important concern is whether recirculation leads to high coolant temperatures. For this reason, the COBRA-WC code was developed with the capability of modeling recirculating flows. Experiments have been conducted in a 2 x 6 rod bundle for flow and power transients to study recirculation in the mixed-convection (forced cooled) and natural-convection regimes. The data base developed was used to validate the recirculation module in the COBRA-WC code. COBRA-WC code calculations were made to predict flow and temperature distributions in a typical LMFBR blanket assembly for the worst-case, natural-circulation transient.

• Research Organization: Pacific Northwest Lab., Richland, WA (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: AC06-76RL01830
• OSTI ID: 6547204
• Report Number(s): PNL-SA-10568; CONF-821103-43; ON: DE83003655
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS
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220900* -- Nuclear Reactor Technology-- Reactor Safety
ACCIDENTS
BREEDER REACTORS
COMPUTER CALCULATIONS
CONVECTION
ENERGY TRANSFER
EPITHERMAL REACTORS
FAST REACTORS
FBR TYPE REACTORS
FLUID MECHANICS
HEAT TRANSFER
HYDRAULICS
LIQUID METAL COOLED REACTORS
LMFBR TYPE REACTORS
LOSS OF FLOW
MECHANICS
NATURAL CONVECTION
REACTOR ACCIDENTS
REACTOR SAFETY
REACTORS
SAFETY
TEMPERATURE DISTRIBUTION