Prediction of critical heat flux for the forced convective boiling based on the mechanism

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

Proceedings of 12th Japan-Korea Symposium on Nuclear Thermal Hydraulics and Safety (NTHAS12) (Internet), 7 Pages, 2022/10

The new prediction method of critical heat flux (CHF) of the fuel assemblies based on the mechanism is proposed in this study. The prediction method of CHF based on the mechanism has been needed for a long time to enhance the safety analysis and reduce the design cost. From several experimental findings of the liquid-vapor behavior near the heating surface from the nucleate boiling to the CHF, the authors consider that the macrolayer dryout model will be appropriate to predict the CHF under the reactor condition. The prediction method of the macrolayer thickness and the passage period of vapor mass in the fuel assemblies are needed to predict CHF from the macrolayer dryout model. In this study, the CHF under the forced convection is evaluated by combining the prediction methods for the macrolayer thickness and passage period of vapor mass, which are proposed by authors. The prediction of the CHF under the forced convection is examined and compared with the experimental data.

Development of the simplified boiling model applied for the large scale simulation by the detailed two-phase flow analysis based on the surface tracking

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

Dai-26-Kai Doryoku, Enerugi Gijutsu Shimpojiumu Koen Rombunshu (Internet), 4 Pages, 2022/07

https://doi.org/10.1299/jsmepes.2022.26.B211

JAEA is implementing a simulation of a two-phase flow in the reactor core by TPFIT and JUPITER which are developed by JAEA based on the surface tracking method. However, it is impossible to simulate a boiling on the heating surface in the large-scale domain by this type of simulation method since the simulation of boiling based on the surface tracking method needs the fine mesh which sufficiently resolves the initiation of boiling. Therefore, JAEA started to develop the simplified boiling model applied for the two-phase flow in the fuel assemblies. In this study, the simulation results of the convection boiling on a vertical heating surface and the comparison between the simulation results and experimental results are shown.

Toward mechanistic evaluation of critical heat flux in nuclear reactors, 2; Recent studies and future challenges toward mechanistic and reliable CHF evaluation

Okawa, Tomio*; Mori, Shoji*; Liu, W.*; Ose, Yasuo*; Yoshida, Hiroyuki; Ono, Ayako

Nihon Genshiryoku Gakkai-Shi ATOMO, 63(12), p.820 - 824, 2021/12

https://doi.org/10.3327/jaesjb.63.12_820

The evaluation method of the critical heat flux based on the mechanism is needed for the efficient design and development of fuel in reactors and the appropriate safety evaluation. In this paper, the current researches relating to the mechanism of the critical heat flux are reviewed, and the issue to be considered in the future are discussed.

Boron chemistry during transportation in the high temperature region of a boiling water reactor under severe accident conditions

Miwa, Shuhei; Takase, Gaku; Imoto, Jumpei; Nishioka, Shunichiro; Miyahara, Naoya; Osaka, Masahiko

Journal of Nuclear Science and Technology, 57(3), p.291 - 300, 2020/03

https://doi.org/10.1080/00223131.2019.1671913

For the evaluation of transport behavior of control material boron in a severe accident of BWR from the viewpoint of chemical effects on cesium and iodine behavior, boron chemistry during transportation in the high temperature region above 400 K was experimentally investigated. The heating tests of boron oxide specimen were conducted using the dedicated experimental apparatus reproducing fission product release and transport in steam atmosphere. Released boron oxide vapor was deposited above 1,000 K by the condensation onto stainless steel. The boron deposits and/or vapors significantly reacted with stainless steel above 1,000 K and formed the stable iron-boron mixed oxide (FeO)BO. These results indicate that released boron from degraded BWR control blade in a severe accident could remain in the high temperature region such as a Reactor Pressure Vessel. Based on these results, it can be said that the existence of boron deposits in the high temperature region would decrease the amount of transported cesium vapors from a Reactor Pressure Vessel due to possible formation of low volatile cesium borate compounds by the reaction of boron deposits with cesium vapors.

Development of correlation of gaseous ruthenium transfer rate to condensed water in accident of evaporation to dryness by boiling of reprocessed high level liquid waste in Fuel Reprocessing Facilities

Yoshida, Kazuo; Tamaki, Hitoshi; Yoshida, Naoki; Amano, Yuki; Abe, Hitoshi

JAEA-Research 2017-015, 18 Pages, 2018/01

JAEA-Research-2017-015.pdf:3.08MB

An accident of evaporation to dryness by boiling of high level liquid waste is postulated as one of the severe accidents at a fuel reprocessing facility. It was observed at the experiments that a large amount of ruthenium (Ru) is volatilized and transfer to the vapor phase in the tank. The nitric acid and water mixed vapor released from the tank is condensed. Volatilized Ru is expected to transfer into the condensed water at the compartments in the building. Quantitative estimation of the amount of Ru transferred condensed water is key issues to evaluate the reduction the amount of Ru through leak path in the facility building. This report presents that a correlation has been developed for Ru transfer rate to condensed water with vapor condensing rate based on the experimental results and additional thermal-hydraulic simulation of the experiments. Applicability of the correlation has been also demonstrated with the accident simulation of typical facilities in full-scale.

Report on the stay in Norway as a secondee of OECD Halden Reactor Project

Hata, Kuniki

Hoshasen Kagaku (Internet), (103), P. 65, 2017/04

no abstracts in English

Radiolysis of boiling water

Yang, S.*; Katsumura, Yosuke*; Yamashita, Shinichi*; Matsuura, Chihiro*; Hiroishi, Daisuke*; Lertnaisat, P.*; Taguchi, Mitsumasa

Radiation Physics and Chemistry, 123, p.14 - 19, 2016/06

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.radphyschem.2016.02.008

-radiolysis of boiling water has been investigated. The G-value of H evolution was found to be very sensitive to the purity of water. In high-purity water, both H and O gases were formed in the stoichiometric ratio of 2:1; a negligible amount of HO remained in the liquid phase. The G-values of H and O gas evolution depend on the dose rate: lower dose rates produce larger yields. To clarify the importance of the interface between liquid and gas phase for gas evolution, the gas evolution under Ar gas bubbling was measured. A large amount of H was detected, similar to the radiolysis of boiling water. The evolution of gas was enhanced in a 0.5 M NaCl aqueous solution. Deterministic chemical kinetics simulations elucidated the mechanism of radiolysis in boiling water.

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.

Behavior of irradiated BWR fuel under reactivity-initiated-accident conditions; Results of tests FK-1, -2 and -3

Sugiyama, Tomoyuki; Nakamura, Takehiko; Kusagaya, Kazuyuki*; Sasajima, Hideo; Nagase, Fumihisa; Fuketa, Toyoshi

JAERI-Research 2003-033, 76 Pages, 2004/01

JAERI-Research-2003-033.pdf:17.46MB

Boiling water reactor (BWR) fuels with burnups of 41 to 45 GWd/tU were pulse-irradiated in the Nuclear Safety Research Reactor (NSRR) to investigate fuel behavior under cold startup reactivity-initiated-accident (RIA) conditions. BWR fuel segment rods of 88BJ (STEP I) type from Fukushima-Daiichi Unit 3 nuclear power plant were refabricated into short test rods, and they were subjected to prompt enthalpy insertion from 293 to 607 J/g (70 to 145 cal/g) within about 20 ms. The fuel cladding had enough ductility against the prompt deformation due to pellet cladding mechanical interaction. The plastic hoop strain reached 1.5% at the peak location. The cladding surface temperature locally reached about 600 deg C. Recovery of irradiation defects in the cladding due to high temperature during the pulse irradiation was indicated via X-ray diffractometry. Fission gas release during the pulse irradiation was from 3.1% to 8.2%, depending on the peak fuel enthalpy and the normal operation conditions.