• 한국압력기기공학회 논문집
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• 제12권2호
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• pp.25-33
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• 2016

The thermal stratification phenomenon in the nuclear power plant can cause abnormal deformation of the piping, contact with the support, damage to the support system. Repetition of the thermal stratification phenomenon or variation of the thermal boundary layer can cause thermal fatigue. Thermal stratification phenomenon in nuclear power plants is still an ongoing issue and active research has been carried out. In this paper, the current situation in Korean nuclear power plants is described, followed by the status of research and the future problems on the thermal stratification phenomenon in Korea.

• Journal of Mechanical Science and Technology
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• 제19권12호
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• pp.2245-2252
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• 2005

Thermal stratification in the branch piping of power plants can be generated by turbulent penetration or by valve leakage. In this study, a numerical analysis was performed to estimate the thermal stratification phenomenon by in-leakage in the SIS branch piping of nuclear power plant. Leakage rate, leakage area and leakage location were selected as evaluation factors to investigate the thermal stratification effect. As a result of the thermal stratification effect according to leakage rate, the maximum temperature difference between top and bottom of the horizontal piping was evaluated to be about 185K when the valve leakage rate was about 10 times as much as the allowed leakage rate. For leakage rate more than 10 times the allowed leakage rate, the temperature difference was rapidly decreased due to the increased mixing effect. In the result according to leakage area, the magnitude of temperature difference was shown in order of $3\%,\;1\%\;and\;5\%$ leakage area of the total disk area. In the thermal stratification effect, according to the leakage location, temperature difference when leakage occurred in the lower disk was considerably higher than that of when leakage occurred in the upper disk.

• International Journal of Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration
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• 제11권2호
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• pp.51-60
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• 2003

In the nuclear power plant, emergency core coolant system (ECCS) is furnished at reactor coolant system (RCS) in order to cool down high temperature water in case of emergency. However, in this coolant system, thermal stratification phenomenon can occur due to coolant leaking in the check valve. The thermal stratification produces excessive thermal stresses at the pipe wall so as to yield thermal fatigue crack (TFC) accident. In the present study, effects of turbulence penetration on the thermal stratification into T-branches with square cross-section in the modeled ECCS are analysed numerically. Standard k-$\varepsilon$ model is employed to calculate the Reynolds stresses in momentum equations. Results show that the length and strength of thermal stratification are primarily affected by the leak flow rate of coolant and the Reynolds number of duct. Turbulence penetration into the T-branch of ECCS shows two counteracting effects on the thermal stratification. Heat transport by turbulence penetration from main duct to leaking flow region may enhance thermal stratification while the turbulent diffusion may weaken it.

• 설비공학논문집
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• 제15권3호
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• pp.239-245
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• 2003

In the nuclear power plant, emergency core coolant system (ECCS) is furnished at reactor coolant system (RCS) in order to cool down high temperature water in case of emergency. However, in this coolant system, thermal stratification phenomenon can occur due to coolant leaking in the check valve. The thermal stratification produces excessive thermal stresses at the pipe wall so as to yield thermal fatigue crack (TFC) accident. In the present study, effects of turbulence penetration on the thermal stratification into T-branches with square cross-section in the modeled ECCS are analysed numerically. $textsc{k}$-$\varepsilon$ model is employed to calculate the Reynolds stresses in momentum equations. Results show that the length and strength of thermal stratification are primarily affected by the leak flow rate of coolant and the Reynolds number of the main flow in the duct. Turbulence penetration into the T-branch of ECCS shows two counteracting effects on the thermal stratification. Heat transport by turbulence penetration from the main duct to leaking flow region may enhance thermal stratification while the turbulent diffusion may weaken it.

• 설비공학논문집
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• 제18권7호
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• pp.603-611
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• 2006

A variety of schemes were sought for a mitigation of thermal stratification phenomenon in the branch piping of domestic nuclear power plant. Several mechanisms of thermal stratification occurrence were introduced in this paper. A number of factors were selected to find out the schemes for thermal stratification mitigation and the computational analysis were performed. The length of vertical branch piping, the diameter, the radius of curvature of the elbow, the direction of connection between main piping and branch piping, the slope of branch piping, the leakage flow rate, the installation of additional valve, the change of the 1st valve position and another branch piping connected with branch piping were mentioned as factors in this paper.

• 대한기계학회:학술대회논문집
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• 대한기계학회 2003년도 춘계학술대회
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• pp.1633-1638
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• 2003

In case that in-leakage through the valve disk occurs, a numerical study is performed to estimate on thermal stratification phenomenon in the Safety Injection piping connected with the Reactor Coolant System piping of Nuclear Power Plant. As the leakage flow rate increases, the temperature difference between top and bottom of horizontal piping has the inflection point. In the connection point of valve and piping, the maximum temperature difference between top and bottom was 185K and occurred in the condition of 10 times of standard leakage flow rate. In the connection point of elbow and horizontal piping, the maximum temperature difference was 145K and occurred in the condition of 15 times of standard leakage flow rate. In the vertical piping of Safety Injection piping, the near of connection point between elbow and vertical piping showed the outstanding thermal stratification phenomenon in comparison with another region because of turbulent penetration from Reactor Coolant System piping. In order to prevent damage of piping due to the thermal stratification when in-leakage through the valve disk occurs, the connection points between valve and piping, and the connection points between elbow and piping need to be inspected continually.

• 대한기계학회:학술대회논문집
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• 대한기계학회 2001년도 추계학술대회논문집B
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• pp.729-734
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• 2001

Thermal stratification due to turbulence penetration and in-leakage of valve cause the large thermal stress, which lead to fatigue crack of the piping system of nuclear power plant. So it is needed that numerical and experimental study for the phenomenon is conducted because there have not yet been sufficient study for the relationship between turbulence penetration and thermal stratification. Therefore numerical analysis is done here and respected to give a fundamental method of the approach to the phenomenon.

• 대한기계학회:학술대회논문집
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• 대한기계학회 2003년도 춘계학술대회
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• pp.1833-1838
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• 2003

In the nuclear power plant, emergency core coolant system(ECCS) is furnished at reactor coolant system(RCS) in order to cool down high temperature water in case of emergency. However, in this coolant system, thermal stratification phenomenon can be occurred due to coolant leaking in the check valve. The thermal stratification produces excessive thermal stresses at the pipe wall so as to yield thermal fatigue crack(TFC) accident. In the present study, when the turbulence penetration occurs in the branch piping, the maximum temperature differences of fluid at the pipe cross-sections of the T-branch with thermal stratification are examine

• Journal of Mechanical Science and Technology
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• 제19권5호
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• pp.1206-1215
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• 2005

The thermal stratification phenomena, frequently occurring in the component of nuclear power plant system such as pressurizer surge line, steam generator inlet nozzle, safety injection system (SIS), and chemical and volume control system (CVCS), can cause through-wall cracks, thermal fatigue, unexpected piping displacement and dislocation, and pipe support damage. The phenomenon is one of the unaccounted load in the design stage. However, the load have been found to be serious as nuclear power plant operation experience accumulates. In particular, the thermal stratification by the turbulent penetration or valve leak in the SIS and SCS pipe line can lead these safety systems to failure by the thermal fatigue. Therefore in this study an 1/10 scaledowned experimental rig had been designed and installed. And a series of experimental works had been executed to measure the temperature distribution (thermal stratification) in these systems by the turbulent penetration, valve leak, and heat transfer through valve. The results provide very valuable informations such as turbulent penetration depth, the possibility of thermal stratification by the heat transfer through valve, etc. Also the results are expected to be useful to understand the thermal stratification in these systems, establish the thermal strati­fication criteria and validate the calculation results by CFD Codes such as Fluent, Phenix, CFX.

• 설비공학논문집
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• 제18권3호
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• pp.202-210
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• 2006

In the nuclear power plant, emergency core coolant system (ECCS) is furnished at reactor coolant system (RCS) in order to cool down high temperature water in case of emergency. However, in this coolant system, thermal stratification phenomenon can be occurred due to coolant leaking in the check valve. The thermal stratification produces excessive thormal stresses at the pipe wall so as to yield thermal fatigue crack (TFC) accident. In the present study, when the turbulence penetration occurs in the branch pipe, the maximum temperature differences of fluid at the pipe cross-sections of the T-branch with thermal stratification are examine.