Numerical Study on Coolant Flow Distribution at the Core Inlet for an Integral Pressurized Water Reactor

• Published in: Nuclear engineering and technology Vol. 49; no. 1; pp. 71 - 81
• Main Authors: Sun, Lin, Peng, Minjun, Xia, Genglei, Lv, Xing, Li, Ren
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 01.02.2017; Elsevier; 한국원자력학회
• Subjects: Coolant Flow Distribution; Flow Mixing Chamber; Group Operation Strategy; Integral Pressurized Water Reactor; 원자력공학; Group Operation Strategy; Integral Pressurized Water Reactor; Coolant Flow Distribution; Flow Mixing Chamber
• ISSN: 1738-5733; 2234-358X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.net.2016.07.005

When an integral pressurized water reactor is operated under low power conditions, once-through steam generator group operation strategy is applied. However, group operation strategy will cause nonuniform coolant flow distribution at the core inlet and lower plenum. To help coolant flow mix more uniformly, a flow mixing chamber (FMC) has been designed. In this paper, computational fluid dynamics methods have been used to investigate the coolant distribution by the effect of FMC. Velocity and temperature characteristics under different low power conditions and optimized FMC configuration have been analyzed. The results illustrate that the FMC can help improve the nonuniform coolant temperature distribution at the core inlet effectively; at the same time, the FMC will induce more resistance in the downcomer and lower plenum.