Prediction of the onset of flow instability in the ETRR-2 research reactor under loss of flow accident

Abstract

Abstract In the present work, prediction of the onset of flow instability (OFI) in Egypt's second Research Reactor (ETRR-2) under loss of flow accident (LOFA) conditions due to loss of off-site power has been performed based on the model developed in previous work. Calculations are performed for LOFA with Scram due to low flow signal at 90% of the nominal flow where the time length that covers this transient is 4.8 seconds. Both, the best-estimate and conservative calculations are performed under the specified operating conditions and geometrical data of ETRR-2 for both, exponential and ramp pressure gradient change. The OFI locus is predicted and plotted against the flow velocity, exit coolant temperature and bubble detachment parameter for several heat fluxes. The results are analyzed and assessed in order to obtain the safety margins for OFI phenomenon that measure how far the operating conditions are from the OFI locus. It is found that, the safety margins for OFI phenomenon in the best-estimate calculation are 2.62 and 2.35 for steady state and LOFA transient respectively, while its values in the conservative calculation are 1.68 and 1.47, respectively.