https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8361-7230
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Abstract
Thermal striping is associated with random fluctuations of temperature that occur at the nonisothermal jet stream interface or across thermally stratified fluid layers due to the high heat transfer coefficient of liquid sodium flow. The temperature fluctuations in the jet mixing or stratified layer regions are transmitted to the adjoining structures after minimal attenuation in a Liquid Metal Fast Breeder Reactor (LMFBR). In turn, the adjoining structure may experience high cycle fatigue and catastrophic failure caused by crack propagation. Investigations have been carried out in detail numerically, and frequency and amplitude of temperature fluctuations in 500-MW(electric) pool-type fast reactor [Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor (PFBR)] structures for practical applications have been observed. The investigations consist of numerical simulations at two levels. First, a published benchmark experiment is analyzed, and then, a suitable computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model is identified for simulating the thermal striping phenomenon numerically. After that, detailed flow and temperature fluctuations are predicted in the reactor structures by analysis carried out based on the CFD model. The values of the temperature fluctuations predicted are found to be within acceptable limits, as required by structural mechanics considerations in the study.
Nomenclature
| A | = | = area of nozzle |
| Bi | = | = body force |
| Cp | = | = specific heat capacity |
| d | = | = jet diameter |
| g | = | = acceleration due to gravity |
| h | = | = heat transfer coefficient |
| k | = | = thermal conductivity |
| Lc | = | = characteristic length (D/4) |
| Nu | = | = Nusselt number |
| x | = | = axial distance |
Greek
| α | = | = thermal diffusivity |
| δ | = | = film thickness |
| ε | = | = turbulent dissipation energy |
| µ | = | = dynamic viscosity |
| ρ | = | = density |
Acknowledgments
This research was funded by Indira Gandhi Center for Atomic Research, Kalpakkam, Department of Atomic Energy, Government of India under contract and supported by Indian Institute of Technology Madras to carry out the research under MEE9900133IGCATSUN. This research made use of the resources of the CFD Center, IIT Madras, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.
Disclosure Statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).