Calculating decay heat removal rates via natural circulation along variable heat flux reactor fuel plates

Abstract

A recently developed integral technique is applied to natural convection cooling along test reactor fuel plates. The technique is demonstrated for water and air flow. In the case of air flow, the process is characterized by a large temperature rise along the fuel channel, thereby rendering the commonly applied Boussinesq approximation invalid. This case is a heat transfer problem of particular interest in accident analyses such as determining the level of decay heat dissipation possible, without exceeding the melting temperature of the fuel, subsequent to a hypothetical loss of primary coolant.