Air—water model studies of cocurrent flow into and along a PWR hot leg to the steam generator

• Published in: Nuclear engineering and design 1989-12, Vol.117 (3), p.251-261
• Main Author: Gardner, G.C.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Energy; Energy. Thermal use of fuels; Exact sciences and technology; Fission nuclear power plants; Installations for energy generation and conversion: thermal and electrical energy
• ISSN: 0029-5493; 1872-759X
• DOI: 10.1016/0029-5493(89)90174-X

An experimental study is made of the cocurrent flow of air and water at atmospheric pressure from a reactor vessel into and along an approximately ninth-scale replica of the Sizewell ‘B’ PWR hot leg to the steam generator. A flow regime map of conditions in the hot leg is presented. The water interface level in the reactor vessel as a function of the flowrates is in agreement with a recent theory developed by the author. The same theory predicts the level in the hot leg when discharging two phases through a horizontal break and is in agreement with the results of other workers on this subject for the discharge of air and water up to a pressure of 5 bar and of steam and water up to a pressure of 62 bar. Results on the water level in the hot leg are correlated empirically but, for lower flowrates, the results are in approximate agreement with a theory for the onset of flooding.