Development of Evaluation Method for Thermal Stratification by Cavity Flow in a Vertical Branch Pipe With Elbow and Horizontal Section: Experimental Results

Abstract

In nuclear plant piping, when high-temperature water penetrates from main pipe, a thermal stratification may be formed in a branch pipe with a closed end. The penetrating flow of high-temperature water is called as a cavity flow. If a thermal stratification interface is formed in an elbow of vertical-horizontal branch pipes, thermal fatigue may occur due to periodic temperature fluctuations. Because high cycle thermal fatigue may have significant influence on structure integrity of pipe, it is important to evaluate the position which is called penetration depth of a cavity flow in which a thermal stratification interface is formed. In the present evaluation guideline which was formulated by the Japan Society of Mechanical Engineers, applicable range is limited only to 50 mm diameter of vertical-horizontal branch pipe. Therefore, it needs to expand the applicable diameter range of vertical-horizontal branch pipe. In this research, 200 mm diameter piping test is conducted to confirm characteristic phenomena, and to build evaluation method of penetration depth in large diameter piping. This paper presents experimental results and consideration of thermal hydraulics phenomena about thermal stratification. The horizontal piping test and the vertical-horizontal branch piping test are conducted. Pipes are made of acrylic resin for visualization of water flow. The water temperature is less than 60°C. The horizontal piping test reproduces natural circulation flow by installing a heater which imitated heating from cavity flow, and a chiller which imitated heat dissipation from a blockage valve. Temperature profiles are obtained by using thermocouples and optical fibers. Moreover, water flow in piping is visualized by injected ink. From the visualization and the temperature measuring result in the horizontal piping test, flow characteristic of the natural circulation region of large diameter piping is clarified The vertical-horizontal branch piping test reproduces cavity flow penetration from main pipe. Temperature profiles are obtained at cross-section direction and axial direction. Moreover, the amount of mass transfer at the thermal stratification which is formed between a cavity flow and natural circulation is evaluated experimentally by using a lithium tracer method. The second paper[Ref.2] explains modeling of evaluation method for cavity flow penetration depth in large diameter piping.