Two-phase pressure drop due to a spacer grid in a heated rod bundle

Faith R. Beck, Lokanath Mohanta, Fan Bill Cheung, Stephen M. Bajorek, Kirk Tien, Chris L. Hoxie

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

1 Scopus citations

Abstract

The present study investigates the effect of a spacer grid on two-phase pressure drop in a heated rod bundle with similar configuration to that used in a pressurized water reactor (PWR). Data from the Rod Bundle Heat Transfer (RBHT) facility at Penn State was used to compare with the existing models available in the literature. Steady state two-phase flow tests were performed in the rod bundle with liquid inlet conditions varying over the Reynolds number (Re) range of 140 <Re < 2200. At the spacer grid of interest, the mass quality (x) varies from 0.02<x<0.9. The pressure drop due to the spacer grid was found to vary significantly with the superficial vapor velocity. In addition to model comparison, an alternative approach involving the use of an effective two-phase grid loss coefficient is proposed to account for the two-phase pressure drop due to the spacer grid.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publicationInternational Topical Meeting on Advances in Thermal Hydraulics 2016, ATH 2016
PublisherAmerican Nuclear Society
Pages245-258
Number of pages14
ISBN (Electronic)9780894487330
StatePublished - 2016
Event3rd International Topical Meeting on Advances in Thermal Hydraulics 2016, ATH 2016 - New Orleans, United States
Duration: Jun 12 2016Jun 16 2016

Publication series

NameInternational Topical Meeting on Advances in Thermal Hydraulics 2016, ATH 2016

Other

Other3rd International Topical Meeting on Advances in Thermal Hydraulics 2016, ATH 2016
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CityNew Orleans
Period6/12/166/16/16

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Nuclear Energy and Engineering
  • Geotechnical Engineering and Engineering Geology
  • Nuclear and High Energy Physics

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