• Journal of Energy Engineering
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.74-83
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• 2003

In the advanced nuclear power plants including APR1400, the SDVS (Safety Depressurization and Vent System) is adopted to increase the plant safety using the concept of feed-and-bleed operation. In the case of the TLOFW (Total Loss of Feedwater), the POSRV (Power Operated Safety Relief Value) located at the top of the pressurizer is expected to open due to the pressurization of the reactor coolant system and discharges steam and/or water mixture into the water pool, where the mixture is condensed. During the condensation of the mixture, thermal-hydraulic loads such as pressure and temperature variations are induced to the pool structure. For the pool structure design, such thermal-hydraulic aspects should be considered. Understanding the phenomena of the submerged steam jet condensation in a water pool is helpful for system designers to design proper pool structure, sparger, and supports etc. This paper reviews and evaluates the steam jet condensation in a water pool on the physical phenomena of the steam condensation including condensation regime map, heat transfer coefficient, steam plume, steam jet condensation load, and steam jet induced flow.

• Proceedings of the KSME Conference
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• 2004.04a
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• pp.2053-2058
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• 2004

The pressurized light water cooled, medium power (330 MWt) SMART (System-integrated Modular Advanced ReacTor) has been under development at KAERI for a dual purpose : seawater desalination and electricity generation. The SMART design verification phase was followed to conduct various separate effects tests and comprehensive integral effect tests. The high temperature / high pressure thermal-hydraulic test facility, VISTA(Experimental Verification by Integral Simulation of Transient and Accidents) has been constructed to simulate the SMART-P (the one fifth scaled pilot plant) by KAERI. Experimental tests have been performed to investigate the thermal-hydraulic dynamic characteristics of the primary and the secondary systems. Heat transfer characteristics and natural circulation performance of the PRHRS (Passive Residual Heat Removal System) of SMART-P were also investigated using the VISTA facility. The coolant flows steadily in the natural circulation loop which is composed of the steam generator (SG) primary side, the secondary system, and the PRHRS. The heat transfers through the PRHRS heat exchanger and ECT are sufficient enough to enable the natural circulation of the coolant.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.54 no.5
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• pp.1874-1889
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• 2022

In this study, we evaluate the thermal-hydraulic performance and economics of Printed Circuit Heat Exchanger (PCHE) according to the channel types and associated shape variables for the design of recuperators with Sodium-cooled Fast Reactors (SFRs). To perform the evaluations with variables such as the Reynolds number, channel types, tube diameter, and shape variables, a code for the heat exchanger is developed and verified through a comparison with experimental results. Based on the code, the volume and pressure drop are calculated, and an economic assessment is conducted. The zigzag type, which has bending angle of 80° and a tube diameter of 1.9 mm, is the most economical channel type in a SFR using CO₂ as the working fluid. For a SFR using N₂, we recommend the airfoil type with vertical and horizontal numbers of 1.6 and 1.1, respectively. The airfoil type is superior when the mass flow rate is large because the operating cost changes significantly. When the mass flow rate is small, volume is a more important design parameter, therefore, the zigzag type is suitable. In addition, we conduct a sensitivity analysis based on the production cost of the PCHE to identify changes in optimal channel types.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.55 no.9
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• pp.3213-3228
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• 2023

As an important part of the digital reactor, the pin-by-pin wise fine coupling calculation is a research hotspot in the field of nuclear engineering in recent years. It provides more precise and realistic simulation results for reactor design, operation and safety evaluation. CORCA-K a nodal code is redeveloped as a robust pin-by-pin wise neutronics and thermal-hydraulic coupled calculation code for pressurized water reactor (PWR) core. The nodal green's function method (NGFM) is used to solve the three-dimensional space-time neutron dynamics equation, and the single-phase single channel model and one-dimensional heat conduction model are used to solve the fluid field and fuel temperature field. The mesh scale of reactor core simulation is raised from the nodal-wise to the pin-wise. It is verified by two benchmarks: NEACRP 3D PWR and PWR MOX/UO₂. The results show that: 1) the pin-by-pin wise coupling calculation system has good accuracy and can accurately simulate the key parameters in steady-state and transient coupling conditions, which is in good agreement with the reference results; 2) Compared with the nodal-wise coupling calculation, the pin-by-pin wise coupling calculation improves the fuel peak temperature, the range of power distribution is expanded, and the lower limit is reduced more.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.209-224
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• 2001

The SSC-K system analysis code is under development at the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute (KAERI) as a part of the KALIMER project. The SSC-K code is being used as the principal tool for analyzing a variety of off-normal conditions or accidents of the preliminary KALIMER design. The SSC-K code features a multiple-channel core representation coupled with a point kinetics model with reactivity feedback. It provides a detailed, one-dimensional thermal-hydraulic simulation of the primary and secondary sodium coolant circuits, as well as the balance-of-plant steam/water circuit. Recently a two-dimensional hot pool model was incorporated into SSC-K for analysis of thermal stratification phenomena in the hot pool. In addition, SSC-K contains detailed models for the passive decay heat removal system and a generalized plant control system. The SSC-K code has also been applied to the computational engine for an interactive simulation of the KALIMER plant. This paper presents an overview of the recent activities concerned with SSC-K code model development This paper focuses on both descriptions of the newly adopted thermal hydraulic and neutronic models, and applications to KALIMER analyses for typical anticipated transients without scram.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.91-107
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• 2003

Since DBA(Design Basis Accidents) has been studied rather separately from SA(Severe Accidents) in the conventional nuclear reactor safety analysis, the thermal hydraulics during transition between DBA and SA has not been identified so much as each accident itself. Thus, in this study, the thermal hydraulic behavior from DBA to the commencement of SA has been experimentally and analytically investigated for the long-term cooling phase of LB-LOCA(Large-Break Loss-of-Coolant Accident). Experiments were conducted for both cases of the loop seal open and closed in an integral test loop, named as SNUF (Seoul National University Facility), which was scaled down to l/6.4 in length and 1/178 in area of the APR1400 (Advanced Power Reactor 1400MWe). The core mixture level was a main measured value since it took major role in the fuel heat-up rate, the location of fuel melting initiation and the channel blockage by melting material during SA. Experimental results were compared to MAAP4.03 to assess its model of calculating the core mixture level. MAAP4.03 overestimates the core two- phase mixture level because sweep-out and spill-over and the measures to simulate the status of loop seal are not included, which is against the conservatism. Thus, it is recommended that MAAP4.03 should be improved to simulate the thermal hydraulic phenomena, such as sweep-out, spill-over and the status of loop seal.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.53 no.10
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• pp.3196-3206
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• 2021

For the Korean design of the PCCS (passive containment cooling system) in an innovative PWR, the overall thermal resistance around a condenser tube is dominated by the heat transfer coefficient of steam condensation on the exterior surface. It has been reported, however, that the calculated heat transfer coefficients by thermal-hydraulic system codes were much lower than measured data in separate effect tests. In this study, a new empirical model of steam condensation in the presence of a noncondensable gas was implemented into the MARS-KS 1.4 code to replace the conventional Colburn-Hougen model. The selected correlation had been developed from condensation test data obtained at the JERICHO (JNU Experimental Rig for Investigation of Condensation Heat transfer On tube) facility, and considered the effect of the Grashof number for naturally circulating gas mixture and the curvature of the condenser tube. The modified MARS-KS code was applied to simulate the transient response of the containment equipped with the PCCS to the large-break loss-of-coolant accident. The heat removal performances of the PCCS and corresponding evolution of the containment pressure were compared to those calculated via the original model. Various thermal-hydraulic parameters associated with the natural circulation operation through the heat transport circuit were also investigated.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.54 no.10
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• pp.3919-3927
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• 2022

This study presents an optimal design of the coolant system of a non-refueling full-life small reactor by analyzing the space-integrated geometrical and electromagnetic variables of an extra vessel electromagnetic pump (EVEMP) for the circulation of a lead-bismuth eutectic (LBE) coolant. The EVEMP is an ideal alternative to the thermal-hydraulic system of non-refueling full-life micro reactors as it possesses no internal structures, such as impellors or sealing structures, for the transportation of LBE. Typically, the LBE passes through the annular flow channel of a reactor, is cooled by the heat exchanger, and then circulates back to the EVEMP flow channel. This thermal-hydraulic flow method is similar to natural circulation, which enhances thermal efficiency, while providing a golden time for cooling cores in the event of an emergency. When the forced circulation technology of the EVEMP was applied, the non-refueling full-life micro reactor achieve an output power of 60 MWt, which is higher than that achievable via the natural circulation method (30 MWt). Accordingly, an optimized EVEMP for Micro URANUS with a flow rate of 4196 kg/s and developed pressure of 73 kPa under a working temperature of 250 ℃ was designed.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.56 no.2
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• pp.762-769
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• 2024

The TMSR-SF0 simulator is an integral effect thermal-hydraulic experimental system for the development of thorium molten salt reactor (TMSR) program in China. The simulator has two heat transport loops with liquid FLiNaK. In literature, the 95% level confidence uncertainties of the thermophysical properties of FLiNaK are recommended, and the uncertainties of density, heat capacity, thermal conductivity and viscosity are ±2%, ±10, ±10% and ±10% respectively. In order to investigate the effects of thermophysical properties uncertainties on the molten salt heat transport system, the uncertainty and sensitivity analysis of the heat transfer characteristics of the simulator system are carried out on a RELAP5 model. The uncertainties of thermophysical properties are incorporated in simulation model and the Monte Carlo sampling method is used to propagate the input uncertainties through the model. The simulation results indicate that the uncertainty propagated to core outlet temperature is about ±10 ℃ with a confidence level of 95% in a steady-state operation condition. The result should be noted in the design, operation and code validation of molten salt reactor. In addition, more experimental data is necessary for quantifying the uncertainty of thermophysical properties of molten salts.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.43 no.1
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• pp.25-44
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• 2011

KAERI has been operating an integral effect test facility, ATLAS (Advanced Thermal-Hydraulic Test Loop for Accident Simulation), for accident simulations of advanced PWRs. Regarding integral effect tests, a database for major design basis accidents has been accumulated and a Domestic Standard Problem (DSP) exercise using the ATLAS has been proposed and successfully performed. The ATLAS DSP aims at the effective utilization of an integral effect database obtained from the ATLAS, the establishment of a cooperative framework in the domestic nuclear industry, better understanding of thermal hydraulic phenomena, and an investigation of the potential limitations of the existing best-estimate safety analysis codes. For the first ATLAS DSP exercise (DSP-01), integral effect test data for a 100% DVI line break accident of the APR1400 was selected by considering its technical importance and by incorporating comments from participants. Twelve domestic organizations joined in this DSP-01 exercise. Finally, ten of these organizations submitted their calculation results. This ATLAS DSP-01 exercise progressed as an open calculation; the integral effect test data was delivered to the participants prior to the code calculations. The MARS-KS was favored by most participants but the RELAP5/MOD3.3 code was also used by a few participants. This paper presents all the information of the DSP-01 exercise as well as the comparison results between the calculations and the test data. Lessons learned from the first DSP-01 are presented and recommendations for code users as well as for developers are suggested.