Abstract
In this paper, the primary heat transport circuit of a pool type fast breeder reactor has been analyzed to demonstrate its decay heat removal capability without exceeding design safety limits even under complete power failure condition leading to natural convection flow in the system. A three dimensional model of large sodium pool (~12 m diameter) and complex inter-wrapper flow path through narrow gaps (3.4 mm) between a large number of heat generating subassemblies is simplified to a semi-3D porous body model which is computationally less intensive. The proposed semi-3D model has been validated against the detailed three dimensional model. The analysis has been carried out using the general purpose CFD code STAR-CD. The predicted results demonstrate that the decay heat removal system is conducive for natural convection and can remove the heat, keeping all the important temperatures within design safety limits.
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Abbreviations
- C1ε :
-
Model constant in turbulence equation
- C2ε :
-
Model constant in turbulence equation
- Cμ :
-
Model constant in turbulence equation
- Cp :
-
Specific heat (J/kgK)
- Eu:
-
Euler number, \( \frac{\Updelta P}{{\rho v^{2} /2}} \)
- k:
-
Turbulent kinetic energy (m2/s)
- K eff :
-
Effective thermal conductivity (W/mK)
- K:
-
Thermal conductivity (W/mK)
- N:
-
Number of rows
- Nu:
-
Nusselt number, \( \frac{{hD_{h} }}{{K_{f} }} \)
- P:
-
Pressure (N/m2)
- Pe:
-
Peclet number, \( \frac{{\mu C_{p} }}{K} \)
- Pi :
-
Instantaneous power
- Pk :
-
Production of turbulent kinetic energy
- Po :
-
Initial steady state reactor core power (MW)
- Prε :
-
Prandtl number for rate of dissipation of turbulent kinetic energy
- Prk :
-
Prandtl number for turbulent kinetic energy
- R:
-
Local radius (m)
- Re:
-
Reynolds number
- Se :
-
Heat source in energy equation (W/m3)
- Su :
-
Momentum source in x momentum equation (N/m3)
- Sv :
-
Momentum source in y momentum equation (N/m3)
- Sw :
-
Momentum source in z momentum equation (N/m3)
- SSP:
-
Initial steady state storage subassembly power (kW)
- t:
-
Time (S)
- T:
-
Temperature (K)
- THP :
-
Hot pool temperature (K)
- u:
-
Velocity in x direction (m/s)
- u′:
-
Fluctuating velocity component (m/s)
- U:
-
Overall heat transfer coefficient (W/m2/K)
- Umod :
-
Modified overall heat transfer coefficient (W/m2/K)
- v:
-
Velocity in y direction (m/s)
- w:
-
Velocity in z direction (m/s)
- ΔP:
-
Pressure drop (N/m2)
- ΔR:
-
Radial width of the subassembly row (m)
- ε:
-
Dissipation rate of turbulent kinetic energy (m2/s3)
- μ:
-
Fluid viscosity (N s/m2)
- μ eff :
-
Effective viscosity (N s/m2)
- μt :
-
Turbulent viscosity (N s/m2)
- ρ:
-
Density (kg/m3)
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Partha Sarathy, U., Sundararajan, T., Balaji, C. et al. Development of a porous body model for decay heat removal studies in a pool type sodium cooled fast reactor. Int J Adv Eng Sci Appl Math 4, 202–216 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12572-012-0073-z
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12572-012-0073-z