Rod bundles are widely used in industry today with applications ranging from nuclear reactors, heat exchangers, and steam generators. Accurately modeling the inherently unsteady and turbulent flow within these rods is essential in order to design for optimal efficiency while controlling vibration, noise and heat transfer. The problem complicates further when spacer-grids are used within the rods to maintain separation and structural rigidity. Computational modeling can be a useful alternative to the costly process of manufacturing and testing prototypes, but its accuracy needs to be checked with detailed experimental data. This paper describes an experimental database obtained using two-dimensional Time Resolved Particle Image Velocimetry (TR-PIV) measurements within a 5 × 5 rod bundle with spacer-grids. One of the unique characteristic of this set-up is the use of the Matched Index of Refraction technique employed in this investigation which consists of immersing plastic rods with a similar index of refraction as the one for water to achieve optical transparency across the spacer grid. This unique feature allows flow visualization and measurement within the bundle without rod obstruction. This approach also allows the use of high temporal and spatial non-intrusive dynamic measurement techniques namely TR-PIV to investigate the flow evolution below and immediately above the spacer. The data base presented includes explanation of the various cases tested such as boundary conditions, rig dimensions, measurement zones, and the test equipment in order to provide a good base for Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations. Turbulence analysis of the obtained data is provided in order to gain insight of the physical phenomena and to compare the possible results obtained from computational simulations.
Skip Nav Destination
18th International Conference on Nuclear Engineering
May 17–21, 2010
Xi’an, China
Conference Sponsors:
- Nuclear Engineering Division
ISBN:
978-0-7918-4930-9
PROCEEDINGS PAPER
Experimental Turbulence Analysis of Fuel Bundle With Spacer Grids
Elvis Dominguez-Ontiveros,
Elvis Dominguez-Ontiveros
Texas A&M University, College Station, TX
Search for other works by this author on:
Carlos Estrada-Perez,
Carlos Estrada-Perez
Texas A&M University, College Station, TX
Search for other works by this author on:
Yassin Hassan
Yassin Hassan
Texas A&M University, College Station, TX
Search for other works by this author on:
Elvis Dominguez-Ontiveros
Texas A&M University, College Station, TX
Carlos Estrada-Perez
Texas A&M University, College Station, TX
Yassin Hassan
Texas A&M University, College Station, TX
Paper No:
ICONE18-30225, pp. 913-922; 10 pages
Published Online:
April 8, 2011
Citation
Dominguez-Ontiveros, E, Estrada-Perez, C, & Hassan, Y. "Experimental Turbulence Analysis of Fuel Bundle With Spacer Grids." Proceedings of the 18th International Conference on Nuclear Engineering. 18th International Conference on Nuclear Engineering: Volume 2. Xi’an, China. May 17–21, 2010. pp. 913-922. ASME. https://doi.org/10.1115/ICONE18-30225
Download citation file:
16
Views
Related Proceedings Papers
Related Articles
Benchmark Experiments for Steady-State Natural Convection in Fuel Rod Bundles
J. Verif. Valid. Uncert (June,2017)
Validation Facility and Model Development for Nuclear Fuel Assembly Response to Seismic Loading
ASME J of Nuclear Rad Sci (October,2015)
Computational Fluid Dynamic Simulations of Heat Transfer From a 2 × 2 Wire-Wrapped Fuel Rod Bundle to Supercritical Pressure Water
ASME J of Nuclear Rad Sci (January,2018)
Related Chapters
The Nuclear and Related Industry
Decommissioning Handbook
Random Turbulence Excitation in Single-Phase Flow
Flow-Induced Vibration Handbook for Nuclear and Process Equipment
Hydrodynamic Mass, Natural Frequencies and Mode Shapes
Flow-Induced Vibration Handbook for Nuclear and Process Equipment