Fundamental validation of simulation method for thermal stratificationin upper plenum of fast reactors; Analysis of sodium experiment

Ohno, Shuji  ; Sugahara, Akihiro*; Oki, Hiroshi*; Ohshima, Hiroyuki

Three-dimensional analyses of a sodium experiment in a relatively simple geometry have been carried out using a commercial CFD code in order to validate simulating methods of thermal stratification behavior in an upper plenum of sodium-cooled fast reactor. Comparison between analyses and experimental measurement has demonstrated that the code reproduced fairly well the fundamental thermal stratification behaviors such as temperature gradient and upward movement of a stratification interface with utilizing the RANS turbulence model. Furthermore, the investigation has clarified the influence of models on phenomena predictability, for three turbulence models of standard k-, RNG k- and Reynolds Stress Model.