Large eddy simulations in nuclear reactors thermalhydraulics

• Published in: Journal of hydraulic research Vol. 35; no. 6; pp. 831 - 842
• Main Authors: Grand, D., Urbin, G., Menant, B., Villand, M., Metais, O.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Taylor & Francis Group 01.11.1997
• ISSN: 0022-1686; 1814-2079
• DOI: 10.1080/00221689709498392

Nuclear industry requires detailed computations of thermal-hydraulic phenomena in different regions of nuclear reactors. It is interesting to know how Large Eddy Simulation method can be applied to the computation of turbulent flows inside a reactor vessel. The examples presented show that physical complex flows become accessible to the simulation: confined mixing layers, stratified shear flows, externally excited turbulent jets. In all cases, correct predictions were obtaines for velocity and thermal fields statistics (mean values, mean standard deviations, Strouhal numbers,..) and also for the dynamics of the flow (onset of instabilities, dynamics of vortices). Furthermore a better understanting of the vortex structures should make possible the active control of the flow (jet spreading rate, mixing enhancement...) and develops better engineering applications.