On Stability of Natural-circulation-cooled Boiling Water Reactors during Start-up (Experimental Results)

Conference · Mon Jul 01 00:00:00 EDT 2002

OSTI ID:21167799

Manera, A; Van der Hagen, T H.J.J. ^[1]

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1. Interfaculty Reactor Institute, Delft University of Technology, Mekelweg 15, 2629 JB, Delft (Netherlands)

The characteristics of flashing-induced instabilities, which are of importance during the start-up phase of natural-circulation Boiling Water Reactors (BWRs), are studied. Experiments at typical start-up conditions (low power and low pressure) are carried out on a steam/water natural circulation loop. The mechanism of flashing-induced instability is analyzed in detail and it is found that non-equilibrium between phases and enthalpy transport plays an important role in the instability process. Pressure and steam volume in the steam dome are found to have a stabilizing effect. The main characteristics of the instabilities have been analyzed. (authors)

• Research Organization: American Nuclear Society, 555 North Kensington Avenue, La Grange Park, IL 60526 (United States)
• OSTI ID: 21167799
• Resource Relation: Conference: ICAPP'02: 2002 International congress on advances in nuclear power plants, Hollywood, FL (United States), 9-13 Jun 2002; Other Information: Country of input: France; 28 refs
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

42 ENGINEERING
BWR TYPE REACTORS
ENTHALPY
EQUILIBRIUM
FLASHING
INSTABILITY
NATURAL CONVECTION
STABILITY
START-UP
STEAM
WATER