Numerical simulation of turbulent heat transfer behind a spacer with small-ribs in a subchannel

Takase, Kazuyuki

When devising the thermal design of supercritical water reactors, it is necessary to develop an analysis method that correctly predicts the turbulent heat transfer characteristics in subchannels of fuel bundles. Spacers are set into the subchannels to maintain the distances between adjacent fuel rods. The turbulent heat transfer is generally enhanced by the spacers' reduction of the cross-sectional area in the subchannels. However, since the thermophysical properties of supercritical fluids drastically change in the vicinity of a pseudocritical point, the enhancement of the turbulent heat transfer depends on the thermal design. To this end, the Japan Atomic Energy Agency is developing an analysis method that will predict the thermal-hydraulic characteristics of supercritical fluids. The heat transfer calculations were performed using a newly developed code under conditions of a subchannel with a spacer. The enhancement of the turbulent heat transfer coefficient in the subchannels with spacers was analyzed numerically.