Premium
An experiment‐based validation of a system code for prediction of passive natural circulation in sodium‐cooled fast reactor
Author(s) -
Wang Shibao,
Zhang Dalin,
Liu Yapeng,
Wang Chenglong,
Qiu Suizheng,
Su Guanghui,
Tian Wenxi
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
international journal of energy research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.808
H-Index - 95
eISSN - 1099-114X
pISSN - 0363-907X
DOI - 10.1002/er.6103
Subject(s) - natural circulation , nuclear engineering , sodium cooled fast reactor , water cooling , decay heat , modular design , heat exchanger , transient (computer programming) , mechanics , heat transfer , environmental science , reactor pressure vessel , materials science , mechanical engineering , simulation , computer science , engineering , physics , operating system
Summary To evaluate residual heat removal capacity of next generation China sodium‐cooled fast reactor (SFR) and provide data for code validation, an integral natural circulation experiment was performed on a scaled water platform which had same structure with reactor primary system. A modular code THACS focusing on safety analysis of SFR was validated by this test. Some necessary development and verification for physical property, frictional loss, and heat transfer of water were carried out first. Whole simulation of an unprotected loss‐of‐flow (ULOF) case was divided into two phases and computation lasted until 5000 s of test time during second stage. Agreement in light of system temperature distribution in first stage provided a suitable initial condition for subsequent transient. Satisfied flow rate curve was reproduced with decaying pressure head and valve characteristic as input when pump was stopping. All natural circulation paths were predicted, including original flow in primary loop through main pipe and reversed flow in reactor vessel cooling system (RVCS). Transition to operative mode of direct heat exchanger (DHX) in direct reactor auxiliary cooling system (DRACS) and its cooling power were also forecasted successfully. This work means a significant advance for THACS in the field of engineering application of China SFR.