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Title: A nucleate boiling heat transfer correlation for research reactors using plate-type fuel

Conference · · Transactions of the American Nuclear Society; (USA)
OSTI ID:7028406

Although bubble formation is not usually permitted in plate-type research reactor cores under normal operation, the heat flux, which leads to onset of nucleate boiling (ONB) ({alpha}{sub ONB}) in the hot channel, and the local wall superheat ({Delta}T{sub SAT}) under fully developed nucleate boiling (FDNB) need to be known in analyzing the core response to reactivity or flow excursions. Recent experiments show that q{sub ONB} may be largely over- or underestimated if the average channel flow velocity v and channel gap size d are not considered in quantifying q{sub ONB} for low-velocity, upward flows in thin, rectangular channels. These flow conditions are relevant to plate-type research reactors following coolant pump trip or when ore cooling under normal operation is by natural convection. The experiments also show that {Delta}T{sub sat} is independent of v in the FDNB regime. This paper investigates the effect of d on {Delta}T{sub sat} in FDNB for upward flows in 2{le}d{le}4-mm rectangular channels, compares the experimental data to predictions by some currently available correlations, and proposes a new correlation to determine {Delta}T{sub sat} within the local pressure p range of 1.36 to 1.48 atm.

OSTI ID:
7028406
Report Number(s):
CONF-890604-; CODEN: TANSA; TRN: 90-023520
Journal Information:
Transactions of the American Nuclear Society; (USA), Vol. 59; Conference: Annual meeting of the American Nuclear Society, Atlanta, GA (USA), 4-8 Jun 1989; ISSN 0003-018X
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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