Core flow distribution in a modern boiling water reactor as measured in Monticello

Technical Report · Fri Oct 01 04:00:00 EDT 1976

OSTI ID:7231360

Kim, H T

Flow distribution at the inlet to the core of a modern boiling water reactor driven by jet pumps was studied experimentally at the Monticello plant. The flow test was conducted at atmospheric pressure and ambient temperature with all the fuel bundles in place, the steam separator-dryer and the vessel head off. Individual fuel bundle flow was measured with a specially fabricated flow measuring device at the exit of selected fuel bundles located symmetrically in the inner zone of the core. Core flow distributions for three core flow rates with symmetric operation of the recirculation pumps were determined from the measurements and are presented. Results of the flow test indicated that flow through the various fuel bundles of the core does not vary more than 2.8 percent about the average bundle flow rate at 95% confidence level and confirmed the design assumption of uniform pressure distribution in the reactor lower plenum. Since all current boiling water reactors have similar hydraulic design bases with respect to the jet pump design and the lower plenum, the experimental program confirms that the pressure distribution for all modern BWR's is uniform.

• Research Organization: General Electric Co., San Jose, CA (USA). Boiling Water Reactor Systems Dept.
• OSTI ID: 7231360
• Report Number(s): NEDO-10299-A
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS
210100* -- Power Reactors
Nonbreeding
Light-Water Moderated
Boiling Water Cooled
BWR TYPE REACTORS
DISTRIBUTION
ENRICHED URANIUM REACTORS
FLOW RATE
FLUID FLOW
FUEL ASSEMBLIES
MONTICELLO REACTOR
POWER REACTORS
REACTOR COMPONENTS
REACTOR CORES
REACTORS
SPATIAL DISTRIBUTION
WATER COOLED REACTORS
WATER MODERATED REACTORS