A numerical analysis on thermal stratification phenomenon by in-leakage in a branch piping

Abstract

Thermal stratification in the branch piping of power plants can be generated by turbulent penetration or by valve leakage. In this study, a numerical analysis was performed to estimate the thermal stratification phenomenon by in-leakage in the SIS branch piping of nuclear power plant. Leakage rate, leakage area and leakage location were selected as evaluation factors to investigate the thermal stratification effect. As a result of the thermal stratification effect according to leakage rate, the maximum temperature difference between top and bottom of the horizontal piping was evaluated to be about 185K when the valve leakage rate was about 10 times as much as the allowed leakage rate. For leakage rate more than 10 times the allowed leakage rate, the temperature difference was rapidly decreased due to the increased mixing effect. In the result according to leakage area, the magnitude of temperature difference was shown in order of 3%, 1% and 5% leakage area of the total disk area. In the thermal stratification effect, according to the leakage location, temperature difference when leakage occurred in the lower disk was considerably higher than that of when leakage occurred in the upper disk.