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Effects of two maximas in axial heat flux on the stability of heated channels with two-phase flow

Conference · · Transactions of the American Nuclear Society; (United States)
OSTI ID:6983586
 [1]
  1. Univ. of Virginia, Charlottesville (United States)
The importance of density-wave-oscillation-induced instabilities in boiling water reactors (BWRs) has been recognized. Analysis of these instabilities in complex systems such as BWRs using computer codes based on numerical simulation of space-time thermal hydraulics or neutron kinetics coupled thermal hydraulics equations is time consuming. Hence, whenever possible, numerical simulation results must be supplemented with analytical frequency domain calculations and, if possible, with nonlinear analyses. Previous frequency domain stability analyses of density-wave oscillations were restricted to either uniformly heated channels or to heated channels with single-humped axially varying heat flux, such as represented by q[double prime](z) = q[double prime][sub o] sin (a + bz). Numerical simulations of BWR kinetics with thermalhydraulics feedback show that a double-humped axial power profile may result under certain conditions. To study the stability characteristics of heated channels with double-humped heat flux profiles, we have extended earlier frequency domain analysis of nonuniformly heated channels with two-phase flow.
OSTI ID:
6983586
Report Number(s):
CONF-921102--
Conference Information:
Journal Name: Transactions of the American Nuclear Society; (United States) Journal Volume: 66
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English