PTS thermal hydraulic testing in the OSU APEX facility

• Published in: International journal of pressure vessels and piping Vol. 78; no. 2; pp. 185 - 196
• Main Authors: Reyes, J.N., Groome, J.T., Lafi, A.Y., Wachs, D., Ellis, C.
• Format: Journal Article Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Ltd 01.02.2001; Elsevier
• Subjects: APEX-CE; Applied sciences; Combustion engineering; Computational fluid dynamics; Computational methods in fluid dynamics; Exact sciences and technology; Fluid dynamics; Fundamental areas of phenomenology (including applications); Integral systems tests separate effects tests; Mechanical engineering. Machine design; Physics; Pressurized thermal shock; RELAP5; REMIX; Scaling analysis; Steel design; Steel tanks and pressure vessels; boiler manufacturing; Thermal stratification; United States; North America; America; APEX-CE; RELAP5; Integral systems tests separate effects tests; Computational fluid dynamics; Scaling analysis; Pressurized thermal shock; Combustion engineering; Thermal stratification; REMIX; Performance evaluation; Methodology; Nuclear power plant; Test facility; Thermal shock; Nuclear engineering; Numerical method; Hydraulic equipment; Experimental study
• ISSN: 0308-0161; 1879-3541
• DOI: 10.1016/S0308-0161(01)00029-1

The APEX Test Facility at Oregon State University has been modified to simulate a typical 2×4 loop Combustion Engineering nuclear plant. The new configuration, APEX-CE, will be used to perform a series of separate effects and integral systems overcooling tests that examine the conditions that lead to primary loop stagnation and cold leg thermal stratification. RELAP5 calculations will be compared to the test data to assess its ability to predict the onset of loop stagnation. A computational fluid dynamics (CFD) code will be assessed against the APEX-CE cold leg and downcomer fluid mixing data. This work is part of the US nuclear regulatory commission's (USNRC) effort to review its existing pressurized thermal shock (PTS) guidance.