HTGR Knowledge Base

Conference Article: Analysis of Effectiveness of Cavity Cooling System

Martin P. van Staden, PBMR (Pty) Ltd, Centurion, SOUTH AFRICA

Abstract

The Reactor Cavity Cooling System (RCCS) in an HTGR provides protection to the concrete structures surrounding the reactor and also provides a means for transporting parasitic heat losses from the reactor pressure vessel to the ultimate heat sink, i.e. the environment. PBMR propose to utilize large volume standpipes in order to simplify the piping layout and to increase the thermal inertia of the RCCS system. A higher thermal inertia increases the required response times in the event of a loss of forced cooling accident. This paper presents an overview of the PBMR RCCS design and discusses the fluid and thermo-dynamic analyses work that has been performed as part of the concept design phase. The effectiveness of the RCCS is analyzed using Computational Fluid dynamics (CFD), for normal operation and loss of forced cooling events, with the RCCS operating in active and passive mode. The analyses domain includes modeling of the reactor and core structures due to the strong thermo-dynamic coupling that exists between the reactor and the RCCS. The outcome of the simulation results presents maximum steady state and time dependant component temperatures and heat fluxes. An analysis is also presented for a beyond design base event, where the RCCS system is assumed to be out of operation due to a loss of the water inventory.

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key words: Gas Cooled Reactor, Nuclear Technology
Reference:
Proceedings of the Conference on High Temperature Reactors, Beijing, China, September, 22-24, 2004
International Atomic Energy Agency, Vienna (Austria)
HTR-2004, pp:1-16