MEASUREMENT OF STEADY AND UNSTEADY HYDRODYNAMIC LOADS ON A NUCLEAR FUEL BUNDLE

Abstract

A test rig was developed to measure the steady and unsteady hydrodynamic loads on a nuclear fuel bundle, as part of an investigation of wear in the fuel channels of pressurized heavy-water nuclear reactors. This paper describes the design, calibration, and operation of the test rig. Steady and unsteady forces are presented for two fuel channel inlet hardware configurations. The results show that adding a flow straightener to the inlet hardware eliminated forces caused by an upstream flow instability and reduced broad-band turbulent forces.