Experimental and computational analysis of a passive containment cooling system with closed-loop heat pipe technology

Abstract

In this paper, a conceptual design of Passive Containment Cooling System with Closed-Loop Heat Pipe Technology (PCSHP) is studied using both experimental and computational methods. By studying on the thermal-hydraulic parameters in system running, such as temperature, pressure and flow rate, the paper mainly focuses on the start-up characteristics, the steady-state operating characteristics, the heat transfer capacity and the natural circulation capacity of the system. Hence, the principle experiment and GOTHIC simulation were carried out under start-up conditions, steady-state conditions and decay heat simulation conditions. The applicability and conservatism of the GOTHIC model is evaluated by comparing the simulating results with the experimental results. The rationality of the system design is validated by both the principle experiment and GOTHIC simulation. It is preliminarily judged that the heat pipe technology is feasible to apply to the Passive Containment Cooling System (PCCS) of nuclear power plant.