Development of a thermal–hydraulic analysis software for a passive residual heat removal system

Abstract

A series of reasonable mathematical and physical models for the thermal–hydraulic characteristic analysis of a passive residual heat removal system (PRHRS) in an integral pressurized water reactor were established. These models mainly include the core, once-through steam generator, nitrogen pressurizer, main coolant pump, and flow and heat transfer models. The flow and heat transfer models are suitable for the core with plate-type fuel element and the once-through steam generator with annular channel, respectively. A transient analysis code with Visual Fortran 6.5 has been developed to analyze the thermal–hydraulic characteristics of the PRHRS. Visual input, real-time processing and dynamic visualization output were achieved with Microsoft Visual Studio.NET 2008, which greatly facilitate applications in the engineering. The software was applied to analyze the effects of the heat transfer area of the PRHRS, the height difference between the residual heat exchanger center and the steam generator center, and the main steam valve turn-off time on the transient thermal–hydraulic characteristics of PRHRS. The obtained analysis results are significant to the improvement design of the PRHRS and the safety operation of the integral pressurized water reactor.