Nuclear Engineering and Technology

Korean Nuclear Society (한국원자력학회)
권호 표지
DOI QR코드

DOI QR Code

Experimental investigation of two-phase natural circulation loop as passive containment cooling system

  • Lim, Sun Taek (Department of Mechanical Engineering Incheon National University) ;
  • Kim, Koung Moon (Department of Mechanical Engineering Incheon National University) ;
  • Kim, Haeseong (Department of Mechanical Engineering Incheon National University) ;
  • Jerng, Dong-Wook (School of Energy System Engineering, Chung-Ang University) ;
  • Ahn, Ho Seon (Department of Mechanical Engineering Incheon National University)
  • Received : 2021.01.14
  • Accepted : 2021.07.04
  • Published : 2021.12.25
Download PDF
⟨ Previous Next ⟩

Abstract

In this study, we experimentally investigate of a two-phase natural circulation loop that functions as a passive containment cooling system (PCCS). The experimental apparatus comprises two loops: a hot loop, for simulating containment under severe accidents, and a natural circulation loop, for simulating the PCCS. The experiment is conducted by controlling the pressure and inlet temperature of the hot loop in the range of 0.59-0.69 MPa (abs) and 119.6-158.8 ℃, respectively. The heat balance of the hot loop is established and compared with a natural circulation loop to assess the thermal reliability of the experimental apparatus, and an additional system is installed to measure the vapor mass flow rate. Furthermore, the thermal-hydraulic characteristics are considered in terms of a temperature, mass flow rate, heat transfer coefficient (HTC), etc. The flow rate of the natural circulation loop is induced primarily by flashing, and a distortion is observed in the local HTC because of the fully develop as well as subcooled boiling. As a result, we present the amount of heat capacity that the PCCS can passively remove according to the experimental conditions and compared the heat transfer performance using Chen's and Dittus-Boelter correlation.

Keywords

Acknowledgement

This work was supported by the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) grant funded by the Korea government (Ministry of Science and ICT) (NRF-2017M2B2B1072553). This research was supported by Incheon National University in 2018.

References

  1. K. Hirose, 2011 Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant accident: summary of regional radioactive deposition monitoring results, J. Environ. Radioact. 111 (2012) 13-17. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvrad.2011.09.003
  2. S.H. Chang, S.H. Kim, J.Y. Choi, Design of integrated passive safety system (IPSS) for ultimate passive safety of nuclear power plants, Nucl. Eng. Des. 260 (2013) 104-120. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nucengdes.2013.03.018
  3. M. Kawakubo, M. Aritomi, H. Kikura, T. Komeno, An experimental study on the cooling characteristics of passive containment cooling systems, J. Nucl. Sci. Technol. 46 (4) (2009) 339-345. https://doi.org/10.3327/jnst.46.339
  4. H. Liu, N. Todreas, M. Driscoll, An experimental investigation of a passive cooling unit for nuclear plant containment, Nucl. Eng. Des. 199 (3) (2000) 243-255. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0029-5493(00)00229-6
  5. J. Bang, D.-W. Jerng, H. Kim, Comparisons of Performance and Operation Characteristics for Closed-And Open-Loop Passive Containment Cooling System Design, Nuclear Engineering and Technology, 2021.
  6. K.M. Kim, D.H. Lee, I.C. Bang, Analysis of natural circulation behaviors and flow instabilities of passive containment cooling system design for advanced PWR using MARS-KS code, Int. J. Heat Mass Tran. 147 (2020) 118982. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijheatmasstransfer.2019.118982
  7. X. Hou, Z. Sun, J. Su, G. Fan, An investigation on flashing instability induced water hammer in an open natural circulation system, Prog. Nucl. Energy 93 (2016) 418-430. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pnucene.2016.09.015
  8. V.K. Chexal, Two-phase Instabililties in a Low Pressure Natural Circulation Loop, Georgia Institute of Technology, 1972.
  9. M. Furuya, F. Inada, T. Van der Hagen, Flashing-induced density wave oscillations in a natural circulation BWR-mechanism of instability and stability map, Nucl. Eng. Des. 235 (15) (2005) 1557-1569. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nucengdes.2005.01.006
  10. I.S. Kyung, S.Y. Lee, Periodic flow excursion in an open two-phase natural circulation loop, Nucl. Eng. Des. 162 (2-3) (1996) 233-244. https://doi.org/10.1016/0029-5493(95)01126-9
  11. P. Vijayan, M. Gartia, G. Rao, D. Pilkhwal, D. Saha, Steady State Behaviour of Single-phase and Two-phase Natural Circulation Loops, IAEA CRP on 'Natural Circulation Phenomena, Modeling and Reliability of Passive Systems that Utilize Natural Circulation'Corvallis, Oregon State University, 2005.
  12. G.F. Hewitt, D. Roberts, Studies of Two-phase Flow Patterns by Simultaneous X-Ray and Flast Photography, Atomic Energy Research Establishment, Harwell, England (United Kingdom), 1969.
  13. Q. Wang, P. Gao, X. Chen, Z. Wang, Y. Huang, An investigation on flashing-induced natural circulation instabilities based on RELAP5 code, Ann. Nucl. Energy 121 (2018) 210-222. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.anucene.2018.07.035
  14. J.C. Chen, Correlation for boiling heat transfer to saturated fluids in convective flow, Ind. Eng. Chem. Process Des. Dev. 5 (3) (1966) 322-329. https://doi.org/10.1021/i260019a023
  15. F.W. Dittus, Heat transfer in automobile radiators of the tubler type, Univ. Calif. Publ. Entomol. 2 (1930) 443.