Modeling of transient turbulent natural convection in a melt layer with solidification

The phenomenon of turbulent natural convection in a horizontal heat-generating melt layer with solidification taking place at the cooled upper and lower boundaries is investigated theoretically. The objective is to determine the transient behavior of the crust at the upper and lower surfaces and the effect of crust formation on the turbulent natural convection process in the melt layer. Various surface temperatures, latent heats, and the heat source strengths are considered along with the effects of the Stefan number and Rayleigh number. Special attention is given to the interaction between the melt pool heat transfer and the crust dynamics. Numerical results are presented for the transient crust thickness, transient temperature distribution, eddy heat transport, and the heat transfer characteristics at the solid-liquid interface during the freezing process. The present study provides basic information needed to predict the transient behavior of a melt pool in a reactor lower head following a severe core-meltdown accident.