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Experimental investigation on circumferential and axial temperature gradient over fuel channel under LOCA

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Abstract

In a nuclear reactor temperature rises drastically in fuel channels under loss of coolant accident due to failure of primary heat transportation system. Present investigation has been carried out to capture circumferential and axial temperature gradients during fully and partially voiding conditions in a fuel channel using 19 pin fuel element simulator. A series of experiments were carried out by supplying power to outer, middle and center rods of 19 pin fuel simulator in ratio of 1.4:1.1:1. The temperature at upper periphery of pressure tube (PT) was slightly higher than at bottom due to increase in local equivalent thermal conductivity from top to bottom of PT. To simulate fully voided conditions PT was pressurized at 2.0 MPa pressure with 17.5 kW power injection. Ballooning initiated from center and then propagates towards the ends and hence axial temperature difference has been observed along the length of PT. For asymmetric heating, upper eight rods of fuel simulator were activated and temperature difference up-to 250 °C has been observed from top to bottom periphery of PT. Such situation creates steep circumferential temperature gradient over PT and could lead to breaching of PT under high pressure.

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Abbreviations

CANDU:

Canadian Deuterium Uranium

LOCA:

Loss of coolant accident

ECCS:

Emergency core cooling system

IPHWR:

Indian pressurized heavy water reactor

PT:

Pressure tube

CT:

Calandria tube

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Acknowledgments

The authors are thankful to Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC), Mumbai, India for providing financial support to this project.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee, Roorkee, India

    Ashwini Kumar Yadav, Ravi kumar & Akhilesh Gupta

  2. Reactor Safety Division, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Mumbai, India

    Barun Chatterjee, Deb Mukhopadhyay & H. G. Lele

Authors
  1. Ashwini Kumar Yadav
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  2. Ravi kumar
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  3. Akhilesh Gupta
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  4. Barun Chatterjee
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  5. Deb Mukhopadhyay
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  6. H. G. Lele
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ashwini Kumar Yadav.

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Yadav, A.K., kumar, R., Gupta, A. et al. Experimental investigation on circumferential and axial temperature gradient over fuel channel under LOCA. Heat Mass Transfer 50, 737–746 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00231-013-1279-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00231-013-1279-8

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