Numerical investigation of heat transfer characteristics in triangular channel in light water nuclear reactor by using CuO-water based nanofluids

Abstract

Nanofluid plays a very crucial role in nuclear power plant for improving heat transfer. It opens a new portal for improving heat transferfor reducing thermal hydraulics problems in nuclear reactor. The aim of this study to represent the numerically investigated result of CuO/Water based nanofluid heat transfer in light water nuclear reactor. In this investigation the 1/6th part of hexagonal geometry of nuclear fuel rod assembly has been taken for simulation. For focusing the effect of nanoparticle concentration and flow rate on heat transfer fluid flow in triangular channel two phase model is used. For improving the thermal properties of conventional fluid CuO/water nanofluid is used. A uniform heat flux is applied at the inner wall. Profiles of heat transfer coefficient and wall adjacent temperature are shown and these are the function of flow rate of nanofluid and concentration of nanoparticles. For getting better result accuracy, k-ω SST turbulence model and mesh quality of fuel rod bundle in triangular array are studied. Results are compared with analytical equations of heat transfer. The results show that prediction of nanofluid heat transfer is very well by using two phase model in place of using single phase model. Results indicates that heat transfer coefficient is increasing by adding the nanoparticles which is in low concentration and heat transfer coefficient is also increasing with increase in Reynold Number. It also indicates that wall adjacent temperature is decreasing by adding the nanoparticles and heat transfer coefficient is also decreasing with increase in diameter of nanoparticles.