Entropy generation analysis of a nuclear fuel element surrounded by a flow of coolant through an annular channel

Abstract

In the present work an entropy generation analysis is carried out for a solid nuclear fuel element surrounded by flow of coolant through a concentric annular passage. In present system we considered uniform heat generation from the solid fuel core and steady state conditions where the fuel-clad gap is filled with helium gas only. A conjugate approach is adapted in the entropy generation analysis, where the effect of solid core heat generation and the temperature gradients inside solid core, gap and cladding are considered as well along with the irreversibilities arising out of fluid flow. The effect of Reynolds number, duty parameters and diameter ratio on overall entropy generation has been investigated in details for turbulent flow regime. For a certain ranges of duty parameters and diameter ratio, the optimal flow conditions are found from the analysis.