Experimental and numerical studies on natural circulation behavior of heat exchanger for molten salt loop

Abstract

ABSTRACT In this study, the flow and heat transfer of a double molten salt working fluid heat exchanger (DHX) in a high-temperature molten salt natural circulation experimental loop were investigated both experimentally and numerically. The experimental results demonstrated that the actual heat transfer of the DHX was superior, and the heat transfer coefficient of the DHX tube increased with the heating power. The simulation results agreed strongly with experimental data, proving that the proposed model was reasonable and feasible. The temperature and velocity distributions were obtained, and the flow flux distribution in the DHX tube was uniform. These results provide a reference for the design of a double molten salt heat exchanger in the passive decay-heat removal system of a fluoride salt-cooled high-temperature reactor.