An Analysis of Critical Heat Flux in Flow Reversal Transients

Abstract

A large inlet break Loss of Coolant Accident in a Pressurized Water Reactor (PWR) would cause the flow through the core to reverse within milliseconds. Currently approved methods of analysis conservatively assume that vapor blanketing of core heat transfer surfaces occurs upon this first reduction to zero flow. A coordinated experimental and analytical study has been conducted to determine when and where the vapor blanketing or Critical Heat Flux (CHF) conditions actually do develop in constant pressure rapid flow reversals. The results indicate that first occurrence of CHF is due not to low coolant velocities, but to flow stagnation in the channel interior with associated rapid channel voiding. Calculations indicate that good cooling should persist over large regions of the core for about 1 s longer than is currently assumed.