Study of a low Mach nuclear core model for single-phase flows

Abstract

This paper deals with the modelling of the coolant (water) in a nuclear reactor core. This study is based on a monophasic low Mach number model (LMNC model) coupled to the stiffened gas law for a single-phase flow. Some analytical steady and unsteady solutions are presented for the 1D case. We then introduce a numerical scheme to simulate the 1D model in order to assess its relevance. Finally, we carry out a normal mode perturbation analysis in order to approximate 2D solutions around the 1D steady solutions.