Assessment of Modified RELAP5 MOD3.2 Against LBE Natural Circulation Test Loops

Abstract

Motivated by the significant natural circulation capability of lead–bismuth eutectic (LBE)–cooled systems, the RELAP5 MOD3.2 code was modified for the analysis of LBE-cooled reactors and non-nuclear systems. The thermo-physical properties of LBE have been incorporated into the code without affecting the code’s original performance; new heat transfer correlations for liquid metal have been implemented. For the purpose of validating the modified code, experimental results of two different LBE natural circulation test loops were compared with the code simulation results. The first one was a natural circulation setup process test at a power of 22.5 kW performed at the Natural Circulation Experimental (NACIE) facility. The simulated inlet and outlet LBE temperatures across the heat source and mass flow rate of LBE agreed well with the test data. The second one was natural circulation conditions under five different power levels conducted at the Natural Circulation Capability Loop (NCCL) facility. The LBE temperature difference and mass flow rate under different power levels predicted by the code were consistent with the experimental data. Generally speaking, the modified code gives acceptable results, and the code could be applied for further LBE systems thermal-hydraulic analysis.