Multi-scale simulation of wall film condensation in the presence of non-condensable gases using heat structure-coupled CFD and system analysis codes

• Published in: Nuclear engineering and technology Vol. 53; no. 8; pp. 2488 - 2498
• Main Authors: Lee, Chang Won, Yoo, Jin-Seong, Cho, Hyoung Kyu
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 01.08.2021; Elsevier
• Subjects: CUPID; MARS; Multi-scale code coupling; Non-condensable gas; STAR-CCM; Wall condensation; STAR-CCM; Non-condensable gas; Wall condensation; Multi-scale code coupling; MARS; CUPID
• ISSN: 1738-5733
• DOI: 10.1016/j.net.2021.03.001

The wall film-wise condensation plays an important role in the heat transfer processes of heat exchangers, refrigerators, and air conditioner. In the field of nuclear engineering, steam condensation is often utilized in safety systems to remove the core decay heat under both transient and accident conditions. In particular, passive containment cooling system (PCCS), are designed to ensure containment safety under severe accident conditions. A computational fluid dynamics (CFD) scale analysis has been conducted to calculate the heat transfer rate of the PCCS. However, despite the increase in computing power, there are challenges in the long-term transient simulation of containment using CFD scale codes. In this study, a heat structure coupling between the CFD and system analysis codes was performed to efficiently analyze PCCS. In addition, the component unstructured program for interfacial dynamics (CUPID) was improved to analyze the condensation behavior of ternary gas mixtures. Thereafter, the condensation heat transfer on the primary side was calculated using the improved CUPID and CFD code, whereas that on the secondary side was simulated using MARS. Both the coupled codes were validated against the CONAN facility database. Finally, conjugate heat transfer simulations with wall condensation in the presence of non-condensable gases were appropriately performed.