Simulation of unprotected LOFA in MTR reactors using a mix CFD and one-d computation tool

Abstract

CFD is expected to feature more frequently in reactor thermal hydraulics. The reason for the increased use of multidimensional CFD methods is not only the increased availability of capable computer systems but also the ongoing drive to improve and reduce uncertainty in our predictions of important phenomena. In this work, a CFD model coupled with the reactor point kinetics equations is developed using the CFD code, Fluent to simulate loss of flow accident (LOFA) without SCRAM in a typical material testing reactor (MTR). The CFD model is used to simulate the core behavior during transient up to the onset of nucleate boiling (ONB) point. PARET code is used not only to validate the CFD model but also to complete simulation during the sub-cooled boiling regime. The focus is on establishing a new CFD approach in the reactor safety analysis and determining the two-phase flow stability boundaries as function of initial reactor conditions. Both ONB and onset of flow instability (OFI) is predicted. Besides a useful chart is provided, which describes the stability region in terms of initial reactor power, core inlet temperature, and power peaking factor.