Validation of the CFD code fluent by post-test calculation of a density-driven ROCOM experiment

Abstract

During the last years, boron dilution events with the potential of reactivity transients were an important issue of German PWR safety analyses. A coolant with a low-boron concentration could be collected in localized areas of the reactor coolant system, e.g., by separation of a borated reactor coolant into highly concentrated and diluted fractions (inherent dilution) which can occur during reflux-condenser heat transfer after a small break loss of coolant accident with a limited availability of the emergency core cooling systems. During the course of follower core assessments, TÜV NORD SysTec appraises safety analyses of boron dilution events presented by the utilities. These analyses are based on the simulation of boron dilution and transport processes in conjunction with a number of dedicated experiments. The analyses demonstrate that boron dilution events cannot lead to recriticality of the core. Hence, the boron concentration at the core inlet has to be determined. TÜV NORD SysTec applies the CFD code FLUENT for the investigation of boron dilution events in pressurized water reactors. To affirm the FLUENT abilities for the simulation of boron dilution events, a validation against the ROCOM experiment T6655_21 with a density-driven coolant mixing was performed. This validation proves that FLUENT is able to appropriately simulate the effects of boron transport and dilution such as streaks of coolant with lower density in the downcomer. Deficits were identified in the simulation of fluid layering in the cold leg, which fortunately have a rather small influence on the predicted core inlet concentration. Therefore, the boron concentration in the reactor core can be determined with sufficient accuracy to solve the safety issue, regardless of the core becoming critical or not.