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.

Report on the 8th Workshop on the Innovative Water Reactor for Flexible Fuel Cycle; February 10, 2005, Koku-kaikan, Minato-ku, Tokyo

Kobayashi, Noboru; Okubo, Tsutomu; Uchikawa, Sadao

JAERI-Review 2005-029, 119 Pages, 2005/09

JAERI-Review-2005-029.pdf:11.01MB

The research on Innovative Water Reactor for Flexible fuel cycle (FLWR) has been performed in JAERI for the development of future innovative reactors. The workshop on the FLWRs has been held every year since 1998 aiming at information exchange between JAERI and other organizations. The 8th workshop was held on Feb. 10, 2005 under the joint auspices of JAERI and North Kanto and Kanto-Koetsu branches of Atomic Energy Society of Japan with 75 participants. The workshop began with 3 presentations on FLWRs entitled "Framework and Status of Research and Development on FLWRs", "Long-Term Fuel Cycle Scenarios for Advanced Utilization of Plutonium from LWRs", and "Experiments on Characteristics on Hydrodynamics in Tight-Lattice Core". Then 3 lectures followed: "Development of Evaluation Method for Accuracy in Predicting Neutronics Characteristics of Tight-Lattice Core" by Osaka University, "Development of Cost-Reduced Low-Moderation Spectrum Boiling Water Reactor" by Toshiba Corporation and "Design and Analysis on Super-Critical Water Cooled Power Reactors" by Tokyo University.

Research for thermal-hydraulic performance in tight-lattice fuel assembly, 1; Outline of research program

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

Nihon Konsoryu Gakkai Nenkai Koenkai 2005 Koen Rombunshu, p.229 - 230, 2005/08

A thermal-hydraulic research program for Reduced-Moderation Water Reactor (RMWR) has been performed since 2002. The RMWR has a tight-lattice core to attain the breeding of nuclear fuel for the effective use of Plutonium in a light-water reactor system. In this R&D program, large-scale thermal-hydraulic tests, several model experiments and development of advanced numerical analysis codes are being carried out to confirm the cooling performance in tight-lattice fuel assembly of the RMWR. In this paper, outline of the research program is described as well as the latest results of critical power measurement in the large-scale thermal-hydraulic tests and model experiments, which simulates the tight-lattice core of the RMWR.

Proving test and analyze for critical power performance in the RMWR tight lattice rod bundles under transient condition

Liu, W.; Tamai, Hidesada; Onuki, Akira; Kureta, Masatoshi*; Sato, Takashi; Akimoto, Hajime

Proceedings of 2005 International Congress on Advances in Nuclear Power Plants (ICAPP '05) (CD-ROM), 10 Pages, 2005/05

A major concern in the design of RMWR is that sufficient cooling capability be provided to keep fuel cladding temperature below specified values, even for a postulated abnormal transient process. In this research, centered the postulated transient cases that may be possibly met in the RMWR running, transient BT tests are performed in 7-rod and 37-rod double-humped tight lattice bundles, under the RMWR nominal operating condition (P = 7.2 MPa, Tin =556 K) for mass velocity G = 300 - 800 kg / (ms). Experiments are analyzed with TRAC code, in which JAERI critical power correlation is implemented for BT judgment. The traditional quasi-steady-state prediction of BT in transient process is confirmed being applicable for the postulated nominal transients in the RMWR cores.

Rod displacement effect on thermal-hydraulic behaviour in tight-lattice bundle based on X-ray CT measurement

Mitsutake, Toru*; Akimoto, Hajime; Misawa, Takeharu; Kureta, Masatoshi*; Katsuyama, Kozo*; Nagamine, Tsuyoshi*; Matsumoto, Shinichiro*

Proceedings of 4th World Congress on Industrial Process Tomography, Vol.1, p.348 - 353, 2005/00

An inside-structure observation of a tight-lattice 7-rod bundle was made, using the high-energy X-ray computer tomography(CT) apparatus. The two-dimensional configurations of all rods were obtained at seventy-six axial height positions over the whole length of the bundle. The measured results of the rod positions showed small rod position displacements, about 0.5 millimeters at maximum, from the lattice positions. Based on these measured rod position displacement results, the flow area, equivalent hydraulic diameter, rod-rod clearance, and rod-shroud clearance were calculated. The effect of rod position displacement on critical power was estimated by a sub-channel analysis. The result showed that the rod position displacement effect has only a small effect on critical power calculations. The calculated critical power still overestimated the measured value.

Predicted two-phase flow structure in a fuel bundle of an advanced light-water reactor

Takase, Kazuyuki; Yoshida, Hiroyuki; Ose, Yasuo*; Tamai, Hidesada

Proceedings of 6th International Topical Meeting on Nuclear Reactor Thermal Hydraulics, Operations and Safety (NUTHOS-6) (CD-ROM), 14 Pages, 2004/10

no abstracts in English

Research and development on reduced-moderation light water reactor with passive safety features (Contract research)

Iwamura, Takamichi; Okubo, Tsutomu; Akie, Hiroshi; Kugo, Teruhiko; Yonomoto, Taisuke; Kureta, Masatoshi; Ishikawa, Nobuyuki; Nagaya, Yasunobu; Araya, Fumimasa; Okajima, Shigeaki; et al.

JAERI-Research 2004-008, 383 Pages, 2004/06

JAERI-Research-2004-008.pdf:21.49MB

The present report contains the achievement of "Research and Development on Reduced-Moderation Light Water Reactor with Passive Safety Features", which was performed by Japan Atomic Energy Research Institute (JAERI), Hitachi Ltd., Japan Atomic Power Company and Tokyo Institute of Technology in FY2000-2002 as the innovative and viable nuclear energy technology (IVNET) development project operated by the Institute of Applied Energy (IAE). In the present project, the reduced-moderation water reactor (RMWR) has been developed to ensure sustainable energy supply and to solve the recent problems of nuclear power and nuclear fuel cycle, such as economical competitiveness, effective use of plutonium and reduction of spent fuel storage. The RMWR can attain the favorable characteristics such as high burnup, long operation cycle, multiple recycling of plutonium (Pu) and effective utilization of uranium resources based on accumulated LWR technologies.

Critical power in 7-rod tight lattice bundle

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

JSME International Journal, Series B, 47(2), p.299 - 305, 2004/05

Experimental research on critical power in tight lattice bundle that simulates the Reduced-Moderation Water Reactor (RMWR) has been carried out in Japan Atomic Energy Research Institute (JAERI). The bundle consists one center rod and six peripheral rods. The 7 rods are arranged on a 14.3 mm equilateral triangular pitch. Each rod is 13 mm in outside diameter. An axial 12-step power distribution is employed to simulate the complicate heating condition in RMWR. Experiments are carried out under = 100-1400 kg/ms, = 2-8.5 MPa. Effects of mass velocity, inlet temperature, pressure, radial peaking factor and axial peaking factor on critical power and critical quality are discussed. Compared with axial uniform heating condition, the axial non-uniform heating condition causes an obvious decrease in critical quality. Arai correlation, which is the only correlation that has been optimized for tight lattice condition, is verified with the present experimental data. The correlation is found to be able to give reasonable prediction only around RMWR nominal operating condition.

Subchannel analysis of CHF experiments for tight-lattice core

Nakatsuka, Toru; Tamai, Hidesada; Kureta, Masatoshi; Okubo, Tsutomu; Akimoto, Hajime; Iwamura, Takamichi

Proceedings of International Conference on Global Environment and Advanced Nuclear Power Plants (GENES4/ANP 2003) (CD-ROM), 6 Pages, 2003/09

It is important to evaluate thermal margin of the tight lattice core in the Reduced-Moderation Water reactor (RMWR). In the present study, to assess the applicability of subchannel analysis for tight lattice cores, tight lattice CHF experiments were analyzed with COBRA-TF code. For the axial uniform heated rod bundle, the code gives good prediction of critical power for mass velocity of around 500kg/(ms), while the code underestimates it for lower mass velocity and overestimates for higher mass velocity. The predicted BT position was outer channels and differed from the measured position. For the axially double-humped heated bundle, the code gives good prediction for mass velocity of around 200kg/(ms), and overestimates for higher mass velocity. It turned out that the two-phase multiplier of friction loss have a large influences on the flow distribution among the subchannels. To improve the calculation accuracy, it is required to predict precisely the flow distribution including the prediction of pressure distribution in a tight lattice bundle.

Study on gas-liquid two-phase flow distribution in a tight-lattice rod bundle

Onuki, Akira; Shibata, Mitsuhiko; Tamai, Hidesada; Akimoto, Hajime; Yamauchi, Toyoaki*; Mizokami, Shinya*

Nihon Konsoryu Gakkai Nenkai Koenkai 2003 Koen Rombunshu, p.35 - 36, 2003/07

Analytical evaluation of maximum critical power by so-called subchannnel code is indispensable for design of reduced moderation water reactor. In this study, two-phase flow distribution in a tight-lattice rod bundle is investigated using 19-rod bundle experimental rig and subchannnel analysis code NASCA. The flow distribution was measured under so-called churn flow regime and the predictive capability of NASCA was assessed. NASCA can predict the flow distribution qualitatively depending on local pressure drop. Quantitative prediction is also reasonable for liquid phase but the gas phase distribution was underestimated. Void-drift model has a dominant contribution and we should improve the model for the tight-lattice rod bundle.