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41 records · Page 3

Code Benchmark of Depressurized Conduction Cooldown Transient in the High Temperature Test Facility

This paper presents results from modeling of a depressurized conduction cooldown (DCC) transient at the High Temperature Test Facility (HTTF) as part of the OECD-NEA Thermal Hydraulics Code Validation Benchmark for High-Temperature Gas-Cooled Reactors using HTTF Data . This paper briefly describes the benchmark and the models being used. It then presents a comparison of steady state and transient results based on the Problem 2 Exercise 1A and 1B definitions. We compare block and helium temperature distributions, mass flow distribution, and energy balance in steady state. All models show comparable mass flow distributions and energy balances. The temperatures within the core and outer regions are comparable in all models too, but inner reflector temperatures can vary significantly. Despite that, we find that the models are in good agreement for the full-power steady state. In the DCC, we look at block temperature at the core midplane and RCCS water exit temperature. The INL and ANL models are found to be in excellent agreement with one another on block temperature over time, while the agreement when the KAERI and NRG models are added into consideration is good. Differences in the transient heat removal from the RCCS cause the differences in block temperature over time in these models. The CNL models show similar trends to the INL, ANL, KAERI, and NRG models, but the temperatures are high because the volumes used in calculating the average temperature include the heater rods in the CNL models only. The HUN-REN model shows results that suggest significantly lower heat removal in the RCCS which merit further investigation.

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS↗

Progress in the HTTF Benchmark and RELAP5-3D Gas-Cooled Reactor Validation

This slide set presents results of analysis done in the first year after the kickoff of the HTTF benchmark. This work includes the development of a new RELAP5-3D model of the facility and collection and presentation of results from one of the exercises in the benchmark. Highlights include good agreement between the new and legacy models for full-power steady state and similar predictions of maximum block temperature during a pressurized conduction cooldown. Additionally, code-to-code comparisons of a full-power steady state and depressurized conduction cooldown (DCC) from full-power steady state as part of Problem 2 Exercises 1A and 1B show good agreement on temperatures predicted in the core but considerable spread in central reflector temperatures. During the DCC, temperature behavior is similar across all models, but cooldown rates are dictated by the performance of the reactor cavity cooling system

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS↗

Progress Towards the Validation of a new RELAP5-3D model of the High Temperature Test Facility

Validation is a key step in the development of any type of systems model. As the next generation of reactors approaches, the need for codes that have been validated for these new types of systems continues to grow. An example of a prominent option is the Reactor Excursion Leak Analysis Program (RELAP5-3D), developed by Idaho National Laboratory. This code was developed for the purpose of systems level thermal-hydraulic modeling of light water reactors (LWRS) and postulated transients that can occur in LWRS.RELAP5-3D has been substantially validated against LWR data. Due to its long history as a reactor safety analysis tool, there has been an effort to adapt RELAP5-3D for the purposes of advanced reactor concepts such as prismatic high-temperature gas-cooled reactors (HTGRs). However, RELAP5-3D has not nearly been validated and verified for HTGRs to the degree of LWRs, warranting verification and validation opportunities with computational benchmarks and existing experimental facilities. Examples of such facilities include the modular high-temperature gas-cooled reactor (MHTGR) 350 and the high temperature engineering test reactor (HTTR) from Japan. The MHTGR 350 is a benchmark design concept for code-to-code verification purposes; therefore, it does not provide any experimental data for validation opportunities The HTTR provides useful multiphysics validation data but does not have the in-core instruments to generate thermal-hydraulic experimental data to help with RELAP5-3D validation. Consequently, a facility that could provide key in-core temperatures for thermal-hydraulic validation was still needed. The High Temperature Test Facility (HTTF) is an integral effects facility for HTGR thermal hydraulics developed and operated by Oregon State University. HTTF represents ¼ length scale of the General Atomics MHTGR and is rated for a total power of 2.2 MW. Axially, the core consists of an upper and lower reflector and 10 blocks, numbered from bottom to top (Block 1 is right above lower reflector). The core is heated via graphite resistive heater rods, with respective channels distributed throughout the core. The primary coolant is helium and heat can radiate out of the core to the reactor cavity cooling system (RCCS), which is cooled by water. The primary purpose of the facility is to investigate pressurized conduction cooldown (PCC) and depressurized conduction cooldown (DCC) transients, which are also referred to as the pressurized and depressurized loss of forced cooling respectively. Two experiments were chosen to perform the validation study with a RELAP5-3D model of HTTF. These experiments are PG-27 (PCC) and PG-29 (DCC). These were chosen based off of the quality of available experimental data before and during the experiment which led to their inclusion in the HTGR Thermal Hydraulics Benchmark.

22 - GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS↗

Current Status of Problem 2 in the HTGR T/H Benchmark

Problem 2 of the HTGR T/H Benchmark is for modeling the depressurized conduction cooldown (DCC) transient. This presentation shares the status of code-to-code and code-to-date comparisons (Exercises 1 and 2) of Problem 2 with results from several participants. A key factor in the discrepancy between results and data in Exercise 2 is the assumed power distribution that is used to model PG-29. This talk highlights both the similarities and differences in solutions and discusses areas where further investigation is merited.

22 - GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS↗

Thermal Hydraulics Validation Activities in the ART-GCR Campaign

The Advanced Reactor Technologies - Gas Cooled Reactor Campaign (ART-GCR) is part of the United States Department of Energy - Office of Nuclear Energy's Advanced Reactor Technologies program aimed at developing a High Temperature Gas-cooled Reactor (HTGR) which will offer enhancements in safety and efficiency. The Design, Methods, and Validation arm of the ART-GCR program provides experience and advanced tools for HTGR design and analysis. The Methods and Validation arm is developing data to validate predictions of decay heat removal through an extensive experimental campaign the Natural Convection Shutdown Heat Removal Test Facility at Argonne National Laboratory. In-core thermal hydraulics validation is being facilitated through the OECD/NEA's Thermal Hydraulic Code Validation Benchmark for High Temperature Gas-Cooled Reactors using HTTF Data. That benchmark contains code-to-code and code-to-data comparisons for 3 sets of HTGR thermal hydraulics phenomena. This ongoing benchmark activity has 16 participants from 9 countries developing leading insights into HTGR thermal hydraulics code validation. The ART-GCR campaign is also working on the development of state-of-the-art MOOSE-based models of the High Temperature Engineering Test Reactor (HTTR). Through the OECD/NEA's HTTR Loss of Forced Cooling (LOFC) program, the ART-GCR campaign is developing a multiphysics transient code validation benchmark based on 3 HTTR experiments that will provide an opportunity for international collaboration on multiphysics code validation.

22 - GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS↗