Effect of rolling motion on transient characteristics of condensation induced water hammer in an equal-height-difference passive heat removal system

Abstract

The investigation of condensation-induced water hammer (CIWH) under ocean conditions is crucial to the system safety of the offshore floating nuclear plants (OFNPs). This paper establishes a CIWH numerical model under rolling conditions based on the computational fluid dynamics (CFD) code combined with user-defined functions (UDF). First, the numerical model is verified by published experimental data. Then, the transient behaviors of CIWH events under various rolling parameters are numerically investigated. The results show that the rolling motion causes a significant steam slug and enhances the steam-subcooled water contact area, which promotes the average condensation rate. The average condensation rate increases with an increase in rolling angle, decreases with an increase in rolling period. Due to the larger average condensation rate and reverse flow caused by rolling motion, the pressure peak generated by the CIWH significantly increases compared to static conditions. Similarly, the pressure peak increases as rolling angle increases, decreases as rolling period increase. Moreover, the pressure peak is proportional to steam inlet velocity, and the location of the pressure peak gradually moves back to the outlet direction as the steam velocity increases. These qualitative conclusions are useful to understand the effects of rolling motion on the CIWH and provide a reference for the CIWH simulations.