Pressurized water reactor (PWR) hot-leg streaming: Part 1: Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations

A thermo-hydraulic analysis model was developed to analyze thermal stratification phenomena observed in the hot-legs of pressurized water reactors (PWR). The model uses VIPREW code to determine the flow field and temperature distribution in the reactor fuel region. The temperature readings from the thermal couples located at the exit of the reactor core were used to compare with the VIPREW computed results. The predicted values agree well with the measurements. The VIPREW results are then used as the boundary conditions for the CFD analysis. The CFD computational domain includes the upper plenum and hot-legs and the fifty two (52) control rod guiding tubes to properly include the additional obstructions imposed to the fluid. Different fuel loading patterns were studied to investigate the effects of different power distribution and fuel channel exit water temperature on hot-leg thermal stratification magnitude. The analysis results show that the 52 control rod guide tubes have major contribution to the mixing effect in the upper plenum. The sudden expansion of the cross sectional area in the upper plenum leads to the formation of recirculation vortex that prolongs the duration of coolant in the reactor vessel. The hotter coolant from the center portion tends to flow upwards to the top before exiting at the upper portion of the hot-leg pipes. It leads to higher temperature in the upper portion of the hot-legs. Water from the cooler outer fuel channels tends to trap in the recirculation region before exiting from the lower portion of the hot-legs.