Experimental investigation and CFD validation of countercurrent flow limitation (CCFL) in a large-diameter PWR hot-leg geometry

Abstract

Countercurrent flow limitation (CCFL) is a phenomenon that consists of several flow patterns occurring simultaneously which produces a complex gas/liquid interface and interfacial momentum transfer, thus making it one of the most challenging two-phase flow configurations for computational fluid dynamics (CFD) validation. Numerous experimental investigations have been carried out in recent years regarding this, but most of those investigations were performed in small-diameter pipes or in non-pipe geometries (rectangular cross sections). A review of these experimental investigations has shown that the scale and geometry of the test section has a large impact upon the onset and characteristics of the CCFL. In order to provide a better understanding of this phenomenon in an actual pressurized water reactor (PWR) hot-leg geometry at a relatively large-diameter and scale, a test facility with a ∼1/3.9 scale and a 190 mm inner diameter was constructed. Experiments were carried out at atmospheric pressure using water and air. High-speed recording was used to acquire high-quality images of the air/water interface. CCFL mechanisms, flow patterns, and the limits of the onset of CCFL and deflooding were experimentally identified. CFD simulations of two representative cases were carried out and assessed against experimental results. The analysis of the CFD simulations has provided insights into the improvements necessary for the accurate simulation of CCFL in large-scale geometries.