Abstract
The use of parallel plate-type fuel assemblies is common in nuclear research reactors. One of the main problems of this fuel element configuration is the hydroelastic instability of the plates caused by the high flow velocities. The current work is focused on the hydrodynamic characterization of coolant channels typical of a flat-plate fuel element, using a numerical model developed with the commercial code ANSYS CFX. Numerical results are compared to accurate analytical solutions, considering two turbulence models and three different fluid meshes. For this study, the results demonstrated that the most suitable turbulence model is the k-e model. The discretization error is estimated using the Grid Convergence Index method. Despite its simplicity, this model generates precise flow predictions.
Highlights
In nuclear research reactors, it is common the use of parallel plate-type fuel assemblies due to its high power density
For determining the Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) discretization error the Grid Convergence Index (GCI) method is used and the numerical results are compared to precise analytical solutions
The criteria utilized to decide the most appropriate turbulence model is the accurateness of the pressure drop and the wall shear stress solutions when compared to an analytical solution
Summary
It is common the use of parallel plate-type fuel assemblies due to its high power density. In CFD studies an accurate solution it is a combination of an effective selection of the grid size and, in the case of turbulent flows, an adequate choice of the turbulence model. The current study is focused on the hydrodynamic characterization of coolant channels typical of a plate-type fuel element. For this purpose, mesh refinement tests are performed, considering three different meshes; two turbulence models are studied: k- and k- , with the commercial code ANSYS CFX [16]. For determining the CFD discretization error the GCI method is used and the numerical results are compared to precise analytical solutions. A series of simulations will be conducted to understand the fluidstructure interaction (FSI) phenomenon in a plate-type fuel element and this work is the first step
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