Validation of the hybrid turbulence model in detailed thermal-hydraulic analysis code SPIRAL for fuel assembly using sodium experiments data of 37-pin bundles

Yoshikawa, Ryuji; Imai, Yasutomo*; Kikuchi, Norihiro; Tanaka, Masaaki; Ohshima, Hiroyuki

Nuclear Technology, 210(5), p.814 - 835, 2024/05

https://doi.org/10.1080/00295450.2023.2249707

In the study of safety enhancement on advanced sodium-cooled fast reactor, it is essential to clarify the thermal-hydraulics under various operation conditions in a fuel assembly (FA) with the wire-wrapped fuel pins to assess the structural integrity of the fuel pin. A finite element thermal-hydraulics analysis code named SPIRAL has been developed to analyze the detailed thermal-hydraulics phenomena in a FA. In this study, the numerical simulations of the 37-pin bundle sodium experiments at different Re number conditions, including a transitional condition between laminar and turbulent flows and turbulent flow conditions, were performed to validate the hybrid turbulence model equipped in SPIRAL. The temperature distributions predicted by SPIRAL was consistent with those measured in the experiments. Through the validation study, the applicability of the hybrid turbulence model in SPIRAL to thermal-hydraulic evaluation of sodium-cooled FA in the wide range of Re number was confirmed.

Numerical simulation of two-phase flow in fuel assemblies with a spacer grid using a mechanistically based method

Ono, Ayako; Yamashita, Susumu; Suzuki, Takayuki*; Yoshida, Hiroyuki

Proceedings of 19th International Topical Meeting on Nuclear Reactor Thermal Hydraulics (NURETH-19) (Internet), 16 Pages, 2022/03

JAEA is developing the methodology to predict the critical heat flux based on a mechanism in order to reduce the cost for full mock-up test. The evaluation method based on a mechanism is expected to be able to predict in the wide range of parameter under the unexpected conditions including the severe accident. In this study, the JUPITER code developed by JAEA is examined to apply for the two-phase flow simulation of LWR fuel assembly with the spacer grid. The benchmark data of single-phase flow in the bundle with the spacers by KAERI were used to validate the simulation result by JUPITER. Moreover, the single-phase flow simulation was conducted by another simulation method, STAR-CCM+, as a supplemental analysis to consider the effect of the different simulation methods. Finally, the two-phase flow simulation for the bundle with the spacer was conducted by JUPITER. The effect of the spacer with a vane on the bubble behavior is discussed.

Development of an integrated computer code system for analyzing irradiation behaviors of a fast reactor fuel

Uwaba, Tomoyuki; Nemoto, Junichi*; Ito, Masahiro*; Ishitani, Ikuo*; Doda, Norihiro; Tanaka, Masaaki; Otsuka, Satoshi

Nuclear Technology, 207(8), p.1280 - 1289, 2021/08

https://doi.org/10.1080/00295450.2020.1810977

Computer codes for irradiation behavior analysis of a fuel pin and a fuel pin bundle and for coolant thermal hydraulics analysis were coupled into an integrated code system. In the system, each code provides data required by other codes and the analyzed results are shared among them. The system allows for the synthesizing of analyses of thermal, chemical and mechanical behaviors in a fuel subassembly under irradiation. A test analysis was made for a fuel subassembly containing a mixed oxide fuel pin bundle irradiated in a fast reactor. The results of the analysis were presented with transverse cross-sectional images of the fuel subassembly and three-dimensional images of a fuel pin and fuel pin bundle models. For detailed evaluation, various irradiation behaviors of all fuel pins in the subassembly were analyzed and correlated with irradiation conditions.

Experimental study on local interfacial parameters in upward air-water bubbly flow in a vertical 66 rod bundle

Han, X.*; Shen, X.*; Yamamoto, Toshihiro*; Nakajima, Ken*; Sun, Haomin; Hibiki, Takashi*

International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer, 144, p.118696_1 - 118696_19, 2019/12

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijheatmasstransfer.2019.118696

Analyses of deformation and thermal-hydraulics within a wire-wrapped fuel subassembly in a liquid metal fast reactor by the coupled code system

Uwaba, Tomoyuki; Ohshima, Hiroyuki; Ito, Masahiro*

Nuclear Engineering and Design, 317, p.133 - 145, 2017/06

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nucengdes.2017.03.026

The coupled numerical analysis of mechanical and thermal behaviors was performed for a wire-wrap fuel pin bundle subassembly irradiated in a fast reactor. For the analysis, the fuel pin bundle deformation analysis code BAMBOO and the thermal hydraulics analysis code ASFRE exchanged the deformation and temperature analysis results through the iterative calculations to attain convergence corresponding to the static balance between deformation and temperature. The analysis by the coupled code system showed that radial distribution of coolant temperatures in a subassembly tended to be flattened as a result of the fuel pin bundle deformation governed by cladding void swelling and irradiation creep. Such temperature distribution was slightly analyzed as a result of the small bowing of the fuel pins due to the cladding-wire interaction even when no bundle-duct interaction occurred. The effect of the spacer wire-pitch on deformation and thermal hydraulics was also investigated in this study.

Measurement of void fraction distribution in steam-water two-phase flow in a 44 bundle at 2 MPa

Liu, W.; Nagatake, Taku; Shibata, Mitsuhiko; Takase, Kazuyuki; Yoshida, Hiroyuki

Transactions of the American Nuclear Society, 114, p.875 - 878, 2016/06

To contribute to the clarification of the Fukushima Daiichi Accident, JAEA is working on getting instantaneous void fraction distribution data in steam water two - phase flow in rod bundle geometry under high pressure, high temperature condition, with using Wire Mesh Sensor (WMS) developed at JAEA for high pressure, high temperature condition, focusing on the low flow rate condition after the reactor scram. This paper reports the experimental results for the measured void fraction distribution in steam vapor two-phase flow in a 4 4 bundle under 1.6 MPa (202 C), 2.1 MPa (215 C) and 2.6 MPa (226 C) conditions. The data is expected to be used in the validation of the detailed two-phase flow codes TPFIT and ACE3D developed at JAEA. The time and space averaged void fraction data is also expected being used in the validation of the drift flux models implemented in the two fluids codes, such as TRACE code.

Current status of thermal/hydraulic feasibility project for reduced-moderation water reactor, 2; Development of two-phase flow simulation code with advanced interface tracking method

Yoshida, Hiroyuki; Tamai, Hidesada; Onuki, Akira; Takase, Kazuyuki; Akimoto, Hajime

Nuclear Engineering and Technology, 38(2), p.119 - 128, 2006/04

The reduced-moderation water reactor core adopts a hexagonal tight-lattice arrangement. In the core, there is no sufficient information about the effects of the gap spacing and grid spacer configuration on the flow characteristics. Thus, we start to develop a predictable technology for thermal-hydraulic performance of the core using an advanced numerical simulation technology. As a part of this technology development, we are developing a two-phase flow simulation code TPFIT with an advanced interface tracking method. The vector and parallelization of the code was conducted to fit the large-scale simulations. The numerical results applied to large-scale water-vapor two-phase flow in tight lattice rod bundles are shown and compared with experimental results. In the results, a tendency of the predicted void fraction distribution in horizontal plane agreed with the measured values including the bridge formation of the liquid at the position of adjacent fuel rods where an interval is the narrowest.

Critical power prediction for tight lattice rod bundles

Liu, W.; Onuki, Akira; Tamai, Hidesada; Akimoto, Hajime

Proceedings of International Conference on Nuclear Energy System for Future Generation and Global Sustainability (GLOBAL 2005) (CD-ROM), 5 Pages, 2005/10

In this research, the newest version of critical power correlation for tight-lattice rod bundles is proposed by using 7-rod and 37-rod bundle data derived in Japan Atomic Energy Research Institute (JAERI). For comparatively high mass velocity region, the correlation is written in local critical heat flux - critical quality type. For low mass velocity region, it is written in critical quality - annular flow length type. The correlation is verified by JAERI data and Bettis Atomic Power Laboratory data. It is confirmed the correlation is able to give good prediction for the effects of mass velocity, inlet temperature, pressure and heated equivalent diameter on critical power. The correlation is further implemented into TRAC code to analyze flow decrease and power increase transients. It is confirmed transient BT can be predicted within the accuracy of the implemented critical power correlation.

Critical power correlation for tight-lattice rod bundles

Liu, W.; Kureta, Masatoshi; Onuki, Akira; Akimoto, Hajime

Journal of Nuclear Science and Technology, 42(1), p.40 - 49, 2005/01

https://doi.org/10.3327/jnst.42.40

In this research, critical power correlation for tight-lattice rod bundles is newly proposed using 7-rod axially uniform-heated data, 7-rod and 37-rod axially double-humped-heated data at Japan Atomic Energy Research Institute (JAERI). For low mass velocity region ( 300 kg/ms), the correlation is written in critical quality - annular flow length type. For high mass velocity region ( 300 kg/ms), it is written in local critical heat flux - critical quality type. The standard deviation of ECPR (Experimental Critical Power Ratio) to the whole JAERI data (694 data points) is 6%. The correlation is verified by Bettis Atomic Power Laboratory data (177 points, standard deviation: 7.7%). The correlation is confirmed being able to give good prediction for the effects of mass velocity, inlet temperature, pressure and heated equivalent diameter on critical power. The applicable range of the correlation is: gap between rods from 1.0 to 2.29 mm, heated length from 1.26 to 1.8 m, mass velocity from 150 to 2000 kg/ms and pressure from 2 to 11 MPa.

Laser pattern profile emitted through optical glass fiber bundle with load

Yamauchi, Toshihiko

Japanese Journal of Applied Physics, 43(9A), p.6473 - 6474, 2004/09

https://doi.org/10.1143/JJAP.43.6473

The output pattern of He-Ne laser that passes through the optical glass fiber bundle used for free electron laser etc. depends on the weight of load (modulation of transverse mode). The increment of pattern radius exponentially increases with the load. It is considered that the micro bending causes this increment. Next, the estimated delay time also exponentially increases with the weight of load, and the estimated delay time is the extent of pico-second.