Droplet Entrainment in Steam Supply System of Water-Cooled Small Modular Reactors: Experiment and Modeling Approaches

Journal Article · 12 December 2024 · Journal of Nuclear Engineering

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/jne5040035 · OSTI ID:2481145

Fossum, Kenneth Lee; Bhowmik, Palash Kumar ; Sabharwall, Piyush

Droplet entrainment in steam-flow is a prominent phenomenon that needs adequate safety and risk analysis of postulated transient and accident scenarios—including experimental investigation and representative modeling and simulation (M&S)—for small modular reactor (SMR) system design and demonstration. This study identifies knowledge gaps by evaluating experimental and computational fluid dynamics modeling approaches to support early-stage reactor system design, testing, and model evaluation. Previous studies reported in the literature for steam-flow entrainment primarily focused on gigawatt capacity pressurized water reactor (PWR) systems. However, entrainment phenomena are even more prominent for PWR-type SMRs due to their more compact integrated designs, which need further research and development. To fill the research gaps, this study provides insight by specifying the phenomena of interest by leveraging the lessons learned from past research, adopting advanced M&S techniques and advanced instrumentation and control. The findings and recommendations are applicable for evaluating steam-flow entrainment models and for designing integral effect test and separate effect test facilities for gaining reactor design approvals.

• Research Organization: Idaho National Laboratory (INL), Idaho Falls, ID (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• Grant/Contract Number: AC07-05ID14517
• OSTI ID: 2481145
• Report Number(s): INL/JOU--24-76241-Rev001; PII: jne5040035
• Journal Information: Journal of Nuclear Engineering, Journal Name: Journal of Nuclear Engineering Journal Issue: 4 Vol. 5; ISSN JNEOFL; ISSN 2673-4362
• Publisher: MDPI AGCopyright Statement
• Country of Publication: Switzerland
• Language: English