Researches of Bypass Flows From Cold Plenum to Hot Plenum in HTR-PM by the Flow Network Method

Abstract

Many graphite blocks in the core of the HTR-PM serve as the construction material, the neutron reflector and the flow paths of the helium. A small part of helium gas may flow in widely distributed gaps among graphite blocks and enter the hot plenum at low temperature. In our previous paper, a simple flow network combined with CFD simulations of complex flow paths was established to analyze the bypass flow in HTR-PM. In the present paper, the flow network was detailed by assigning more inner nodes and links in the pebble bed. In all kinds of bypass flow paths, only the bypass flow from cold plenum to hot plenum (P-P) was considered. Horizontal flow between the core and the P-P bypass flow path was also added into the flow network in various heights from the top to the bottom. The existence of the horizontal flow enhanced the helium exchange between the core and the bypass flow to different extent in different position, and finally changed the P-P bypass flow ratio. Moreover, gaps in larger sizes had more significant effects on the P-P bypass flows.