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Experimental determination of interior subchannel crossflow and axial flow in a model of the Clinch River Breeder Reactor fuel assembly rod bundle with wire wrap spacers

Conference ·
OSTI ID:7335089
; ;
Two experimental methods have been used in a 10.87 to 1 scale, unheated air flow model of the Clinch River Breeder Reactor Plant fuel assembly rod bundle with wire wrap spacers to determine the circumferential flows in the clearance gaps between the subchannels. In one method, a tracer gas (ethane) is injected and downstream concentration distributions are obtained. These distributions provide a measure of the scalar transport between the subchannels which is interpreted in terms of circumferential velocities in the clearance gaps. In the second method, a two-dimensional (cobra) probe located in the clearance gap is used to measure the flow direction as a function of position in the clearance gap. This yields a circumferential velocity distribution which is integrated to obtain the average cross flow. The results of the two cross flow experiments agree quite well and indicate a rather complex behavior pattern. Detailed mappings of axial air flow velocities within the interior subchannels have also been determined from data obtained with a movable pitot-static probe. The overall air flow rate simulates prototypic, turbulent conditions and achieves reasonably fully developed flow within the axial region of experimentation. Composite interpretations of data obtained in several subchannels have been made to show axial flow patterns with respect to changing wire wrap location.
Research Organization:
Westinghouse Research Labs., Pittsburgh, PA (USA); Westinghouse Electric Corp., Madison, PA (USA). Advanced Reactors Div.
DOE Contract Number:
E(11-1)-2395
OSTI ID:
7335089
Report Number(s):
CONF-761107-4
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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Related Subjects

21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS
210500* -- Power Reactors
Breeding
BREEDER REACTORS
CLINCH RIVER BREEDER REACTOR
EPITHERMAL REACTORS
FAST REACTORS
FBR TYPE REACTORS
FLUID FLOW
FUEL ASSEMBLIES
LIQUID METAL COOLED REACTORS
POWER REACTORS
REACTORS
ROD BUNDLES
SIMULATION
SODIUM COOLED REACTORS
SPACERS