Development of measurement method for gas-liquid two-phase flow inside a fuel bundle to obtain code validation data

Ono, Ayako ; Okamoto, Kaoru*; Makino, Yasushi*; Hosokawa, Shigeo*; Yoshida, Hiroyuki  

JAEA has been developing an advanced neutronic/thermal-hydraulics coupling simulation system. In the coupling simulation system, the detailed thermal-hydraulics codes based on an interface-capturing method (JUPITER or TPFIT) will be adopted to simulate thermal-hydraulics behavior in a fuel bundle. The experimental data and findings relating to the gas-liquid two-phase flow in a fuel bundle are especially required to validate JUPITER/TPFIT. In this study, we therefore develop a measurement method by combining Laser-Doppler Velocimetry (LDV) and photodiodes, which can access to a small flow channel such as a subchannel of a fuel bundle. The developed measurement method is validated by comparison with the measument by a electrical conductance probe. Finally, we obtain experimental data on local flow structures and interactions between gas and liquid phases. The developed measurement method is actually applied to an air-water dispersed bubbly flow to confirm its capability.