Three-dimensional analysis of turbulent heat transfer and flow through mixing vane in A subchannel of nuclear reactor

Abstract

The present work evaluates the effects of mixing vane shape on the flow structure and heat transfer downstream of mixing vane in a subchannel of fuel assembly, by obtaining velocity and pressure fields, turbulent intensity, flow-mixing factors, heat transfer coefficient, and friction factor using three-dimensional RANS analysis. Four different shapes of mixing vane designed by the authors, are tested to evaluate the performances in enhancing the heat transfer, in comparison with commercialized split vane. Standard k-ε model are used as a turbulence closure model, and, periodic and symmetry conditions are set as boundary conditions. The flow blockage ratio is kept constant, but the twist angle of mixing vane is changed. The results with three turbulence models are compared with experimental data. © 2003 Taylor & Francis Group, Ltd.