A STUDY OF LAMINAR-TURBULENT TRANSITION IN ROD BUNDLES

L. C.Aldeia Machado, C. Bourdot Dutra, S. P. Bistany, E. Merzari

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

Abstract

Rod bundles play a crucial role in various nuclear reactor core designs, including light water reactors, liquid metal reactors, heavy water reactors, and some gas fast reactors.In this study, we perform a series of high-resolution Direct Numerical simulations of laminar-turbulent transition in square rod bundles.The goal is to determine the transition onset as a function of the pitch-to-diameter ratio and Reynolds number in infinite square lattices.Very long domains are investigated in a first-of-its-kind study using the GPU-based spectral element code NekRS on the supercomputer Summit.Unique to this study is an in-depth analysis of the spatially developing transition and its impact on mixing properties.We demonstrate that laminar-turbulent transition occurs even at fairly large P/D at very low Reynolds numbers and primarily through a gap instability, at least in the initial phases of the transients.Frequency analysis is also introduced.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publicationProceedings of the 20th International Topical Meeting on Nuclear Reactor Thermal Hydraulics, NURETH 2023
PublisherAmerican Nuclear Society
Pages2897-2910
Number of pages14
ISBN (Electronic)9780894487934
DOIs
StatePublished - 2023
Event20th International Topical Meeting on Nuclear Reactor Thermal Hydraulics, NURETH 2023 - Washington, United States
Duration: Aug 20 2023Aug 25 2023

Publication series

NameProceedings of the 20th International Topical Meeting on Nuclear Reactor Thermal Hydraulics, NURETH 2023

Conference

Conference20th International Topical Meeting on Nuclear Reactor Thermal Hydraulics, NURETH 2023
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CityWashington
Period8/20/238/25/23

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Nuclear Energy and Engineering
  • Instrumentation

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