CHF experiments under steady-state and transient conditions for tight lattice core with non-uniform axial power distribution

Abstract

Steady-state and transient critical heat flux (CHF) experiments were performed using triangular pitched 7-rod assemblies with non-uniform axial power distributions under the maximum pressure of 15.5 MPa. The onset of steady-state CHF was predicted within the uncertainty of 10% with the KfK correlation using the local flow conditions calculated by the subchannel analysis code COBRA–IV–T. On the other hand, various mechanistic CHF models did not agree with the steady-state CHF data. The transient CHFs under the conditions of flow reduction, power increase or flow and power simultaneous variation were predicted with the quasi-steady-state method within approximately the same uncertainty as the steady-state CHF experiments. The predictive capability did not depend on the transient speed within 30%/s of the flow reduction rate and within 120%/s of the power increase rate. It was also revealed that there exists large CHF margins under the thermal-hydraulic conditions simulating the locked rotor accident and the control rod cluster ejection accident of the double-flat-core type high conversion pressurized water reactor (HCPWR). © 1993 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.