液态金属冷却快堆子通道分析软件SACOS-LMR研发与工程应用

子通道分析方法是反应堆堆芯设计和热工水力分析的重要手段之一,对于我国提出的压水堆-快堆-聚变堆三步走核能发展战略,开发适用于液态金属冷却快堆热工安全分析的子通道分析程序具有重要意义。本文基于西安交通大学热工水力研究室自主开发的压水堆子通道程序SACOS,通过添加液态金属快堆特有的模型,如绕丝模型、盒间流模型、液态金属对流换热模型等,扩展至适用于液态金属快堆的子通道分析程序SACOS-LMR,该程序具备对液态金属快堆组件开展稳态和瞬态热工水力分析的功能。结合卡尔斯鲁厄开展的37棒钠冷瞬态实验,完成了SACOS-LMR程序的瞬态功能验证。基于验证后的SACOS-LMR程序,对欧洲铅冷快堆(ALFRED)堆芯开展了稳态工况和瞬态事故工况下的热工安全特性分析,计算结果合理,且与同类程序保持一致,表明SACOS-LMR程序可用于液态金属快堆的堆芯设计和热工水力分析研究。     

运动条件下铅铋反应堆热工水力特性研究

为研究运动条件下铅铋反应堆热工水力特性,开发了运动条件铅铋反应堆瞬态分析系统程序,并完成了对设计的5 MW自然循环小型模块化铅铋反应堆的建模,分析了运动条件对反应堆自然循环热工水力特性的影响。计算结果表明,倾斜条件下,堆芯流量减小,堆芯出口温度升高,在计算最大倾斜角度下,流量减小20%,冷却剂堆芯出口温度升高20 ℃。起伏条件下,起伏幅度和起伏周期越大,对反应堆影响越大,由于系统阻力影响,流量变化较起伏加速度有小于1 s的延时。摇摆条件下,摇摆角度越大和摇摆周期越小,对反应堆影响越大,燃料包壳峰值温度较稳态值高20 ℃以内,对反应堆正常运行时安全性影响较小。     

脉冲堆热工水力设计程序研制开发

介绍了中国核动力研究设计院自主开发的脉冲堆热工水力设计程序系统。它包括脉冲堆自然循环分析程序（MC－FLOW）、堆芯热工水力分析程序（MC－THAS）和脉冲堆瞬态分析程序（MC－TRAN）。采用原型堆的数据对程序进行验证，其结果表明：脉冲堆热工水力设计程序系统满足热工水力设计的要求，能够可靠地用于西安脉冲堆的设计。     

铅铋冷却快堆子通道热工水力初步数值分析

为探索铅铋冷却快堆子通道的热工水力特性,自主研发了SACOS-PB子通道程序。本工作以矩形通道9根棒束组件为例,使用SACOS-PB程序对铅铋冷却快堆子通道的温度场进行了模拟分析,并用CFX软件进行验证。结果显示,SACOS-PB程序计算结果与文献值比较符合,与CFX软件计算结果符合度也较高。使用SACOS-PB程序分析比较了3种组件结构,表明在铅铋冷却快堆中更适宜使用六边形通道,为进一步对铅铋冷却快堆子通道进行热工水力特性分析奠定了基础。     

RELAP5铅铋快堆模型拓展及验证

为研究铅铋快堆瞬态热工水力特性,对RELAP5程序进行二次开发,添加铅铋合金（LBE）物性模型和液态金属流动换热模型,并与NACIE-UP和CIRCE-ICE台架的实验结果进行对比。计算结果表明：NACIE-UP台架稳态流量和温度相对误差在2%以内,瞬态相对误差不超过5%,与其他系统程序CATHARE、ATHLET、RELAP5-3D、RELAP5/MOD3.3(modified)相比,本文程序的相对偏差不超过10%;CIRCE-ICE台架稳态流量和温度相对误差在2%以内,瞬态相对误差不超过10%。本文程序满足反应堆系统热工水力分析程序精度要求,可作为铅铋快堆安全分析的有效工具。     

自然循环铅铋冷却快堆失热阱瞬态研究

为考察自然循环铅铋冷却快堆的自然循环与固有安全特性,利用基于中子学与热工水力学耦合方法的安全分析程序NTC-2D,对10 MW自然循环铅铋冷却快堆的无保护失热阱(ULOHS)和有保护失热阱(PLOHS)工况分别进行了模拟与分析。结果表明,对于ULOHS,冷却剂、包壳及燃料芯块温度均远低于安全限值,并且由于反应性温度负反馈,反应堆自动停堆;对于PLOHS,事故后600s内,停堆保护系统的投入使反应堆处于安全状态。瞬态模拟表明该反应堆具有良好的自然循环与固有安全特性。     

全厂断电事故工况下小型铅铋快堆余热排出能力评价

小型铅铋快堆的非能动余热排出系统（PRHRS）主要是为应对全厂断电（SBO）事故,但目前并不确定该PRHRS能否有效带走堆芯衰变热以保证堆芯安全,因此开展了数值分析研究评价PRHRS的余热排出能力。本文使用RELAP5 4.0程序开展了小型铅铋快堆SBO事故热工水力分析,首先进行稳态计算,之后将稳态结果作为初值进行瞬态计算。研究结果表明：在整个SBO事故中,包壳峰值温度最高为820 K,主容器与保护容器壁面最高温度分别为792 K和769 K,均未超过安全限值,表明此PRHRS可有效应对小型铅铋快堆SBO事故。本文研究可为小型铅铋快堆PRHRS的工程设计奠定技术基础。     

基于Relap5的ACME台架全厂断电整体试验数值分析

针对我国大型非能动堆芯冷却系统整体试验（ACME）台架开展的全厂断电（SBO）整体效应试验,利用Relap5程序进行了建模和数值模拟,并进行了参数的比对分析,结果表明:Relap5数值模型可较好地再现ACME台架SBO整体试验的主要事故进程,其事故序列、关键热工水力现象均与试验结果一致;对于堆芯与非能动余热排出换热器（PRHR HX）和堆芯补水箱（CMT）间的自然循环现象,Relap5计算的自然循环流量偏高,自然循环瞬态过程较试验过程偏快;对于主回路系统（RCS）瞬态压力和稳压器水位峰值,Relap5的计算结果是保守的,存在安全裕量。      

铅基快堆自然循环实验台架比例分析方法研究

铅基快堆具有良好的自然循环能力,研究其自然循环特性对提高反应堆固有安全性具有重要价值,而比例分析方法是建立合理可行铅基快堆自然循环实验台架的理论基础。本文通过无量纲化典型自然循环铅基快堆一回路系统的流体控制方程,确定主要的无量纲相似准则群;基于所构建的无量纲相似准则数对小型自然循环铅基快堆SNCLFR-10开展比例分析,获得双环路单相自然循环实验台架的几何和热工水力设计参数;对比分析额定工况下SNCLFR-10和缩比实验台架的关键热工水力参数,开展铅基快堆自然循环实验台架比例分析方法验证。研究结果表明,SNCLFR-10和缩比台架的关键热工参数模拟结果比值与理论推导比例关系吻合良好,建立的铅基快堆自然循环实验台架比例分析方法合理可行。     

CEFR在ULOF工况下的自然循环能力分析

自然循环能力是衡量钠冷快堆固有安全性的重要指标,堆芯布置、回路设计及工况参数等都会影响堆芯自然循环能力,因此不同堆型的自然循环能力有很大差异。为了保证堆芯事故得到有效缓解,中国实验快堆(CEFR)的设计中通过优化系统布置,重点考虑了堆芯自然循环。本文采用SAS4A程序对CEFR进行系统建模,分析了CEFR在无保护失流(ULOF)工况下的堆芯热工水力参数瞬态特性,验证了CEFR利用自身自然循环和负反馈设计进行事故缓解的能力,本文还对一回路流动阻力和二回路钠装量对堆芯自然循环的影响进行分析。计算结果表明,CEFR具有良好的自然循环特性,在ULOF工况下可以依靠其负反馈停堆,并能够建立起稳定的自然循环从而导出堆芯余热。     

Subchannel analysis of fuel assemblies of a lead–alloy cooled fast reactor

Lead–alloy cooled fast reactor is one of the six Gen-IV reactors. It has many attractive features such as excellent natural circulation performance, better shielding against gamma rays or energetic neutrons and potentially reduced capital costs. A natural circulation lead–alloy cooled fast reactor with 10 MWth is under design in China (hereafter called LFR-10MW). Fuel assemblies thermal hydraulic analysis is of vital importance for a successful design. A subchannel analysis code with flow distribution model was used to carry out the thermal hydraulic analysis. This work briefly gave the thermal-hydraulic design for the LFR-10MW and analyzed the thermal-hydraulic characteristics under steady-state condition using the subchannel analysis code. Whole core analysis was performed to locate the hottest fuel assembly using the code. The hottest fuel assembly was analyzed to obtain the cladding temperature, fuel temperature and coolant velocity. The maximum cladding temperature, the maximum fuel center temperature and the maximum coolant velocity are all below the design constraints. These results imply that the thermal-hydraulic design of LFR-10MW is feasible.     

Analytical evaluation of two-phase natural circulation flow characteristics under external reactor vessel cooling

This work proposes an analytical method of evaluating the effects of design and operating parameters on the low-pressure two-phase natural circulation flow through the annular shaped gap at the reactor vessel exterior surface heated by corium (molten core) relocated to the reactor vessel lower plenum after loss of coolant accidents. A natural circulation flow velocity equation derived from steady-state mass, momentum, and energy conservation equations for homogeneous two-phase flow is numerically solved for the core melting conditions of the APR1400 reactor. The solution is compared with existing experiments which measured natural circulation flow through the annular gap slice model. Two kinds of parameters are considered for this analytical method. One is the thermal–hydraulic conditions such as thermal power of corium, pressure and inlet subcooling. The others are those for the thermal insulation system design for the purpose of providing natural circulation flow path outside the reactor vessel: inlet flow area, annular gap clearance and system resistance. A computer program NCIRC is developed for the numerical solution of the implicit flow velocity equation.     

一体化压水堆强迫循环转自然循环过渡过程特性分析

针对一体化压水堆核动力装置,以核动力装置瞬态最佳估算程序RELAP5/MOD3为基础,采用两群三维时空中子动力学模型替代点堆模型,并建立三维空间内中子物理与热工水力的耦合模型,研制相应的计算程序。对一体化核动力装置强迫循环向自然循环转换过程进行仿真模拟。在过渡过程中,一体化压水堆核动力装置反应堆功率变化幅度较大,冷却剂流量的变化对一回路温度影响较大。     

Safety analysis of small long life CANDLE fast reactor

Safety analysis for small long life fast CANDLE reactor was performed with ULOF (unprotected loss of flow), SDRW (unprotected shut down rods withdrawal), ULOHS (unprotected loss of heat sink) and LB (local blockage) accidents. The employed reactor system is based on the former steady state research. The core with 1.0 m radius and 2.0 m length produces 200 MW thermal power in steady state, using enriched N-15 natural uranium as fresh fuel and lead bismuth as coolant. The former 3 accidents were simulated without scram by neutronic-thermal hydraulic calculation coupled with stationary diffusion calculation. The LB accident was simulated by transient thermal hydraulic calculation only, because in this accident the neutronic factors basically do not change. The analysis results show that the proposed small CANDLE fast reactor can survive all the accidents without any active protection.     

Full-scale modelling of the MNSR reactor to simulate normal operation, transients and reactivity insertion accidents under natural circulation conditions using the thermal hydraulic code ATHLET

A full-scale ATHLET system model for the Syrian miniature neutron source reactor (MNSR) has been developed. The model represents all reactor components of primary and secondary loops with the corresponding neutronics and thermal hydraulic characteristics. Under the MNSR operation conditions of natural circulation, normal operation, step reactivity transients and reactivity insertion accidents have been simulated. The analyses indicate the capability of ATHLET to simulate MNSR dynamic and thermal hydraulic behaviour and particularly to calculate the core coolant velocity of prevailing natural circulation in presence of the strong negative reactivity feed back of coolant temperature. The predicted time distribution of reactor power, core inlet and outlet coolant temperature follow closely the measured data for the quasi steady and transient states. However, sensitivity analyses indicate the influence of pressure form loss coefficients at core inlet and outlet on the results. The analysis of reactivity accidents represented by the insertion of large reactivity, demonstrates the high inherent safety features of MNSR. Even in case of insertion of total available cold excess reactivity without scram, the high negative reactivity feedback of moderator temperature limits power excursion and avoids consequently the escalation of clad temperature to the level of onset of sub-cooled void formation. The calculated peak power in this case agrees well with the data reported in the safety analysis report. The ATHLET code had not previously been assessed under these conditions. The results of this comprehensive analysis ensure the ability of the code to test some conceptual design modifications of MNSR's cooling system aiming the improvement of core cooling conditions to increase the maximum continuous reactor operation time allowing more effective use of MNSR for irradiation purposes.     

Investigation of chaotic oscillations in boiling-water reactors

The chaotic dynamics of boiling-water reactors is investigated on the basis of a one-dimensional integral model of momentum for the boiling-water channel and point equation of kinetics. It is shown that chaotic oscillations during which the sign of the coolant velocity in the boiling channel changes occur in the case of strong feedback on steam content with the parameters of the boiling channel deep in the region of instability occur in boiling-water reactors with natural and forced circulation of the coolant. It is determined that such oscillations can occur with the standard reactor arrangement when the core entrance is open for water to enter the core and for back circulation of the coolant as well as with an arrangement where the entrance is half open – closed for back circulation of the coolant. A numerical calculation of the chaotic oscillations is performed. The mechanism of pulsed chaos is described. Regions of stability and stochasticity are separated in the plane of the parameters characterizing the underheating of water to the saturation temperature at the entrance to the reactor and stationary average steam content in the core. One-dimensional point mappings determining the chaotic dynamics of the boiling water reactor are constructed. The properties of the mappings and the bifurcation of their stationary points are investigated.     

数值反应堆堆芯通道级三维热工水力程序CorTAF开发及初步验证

堆芯是核动力系统的核心部件,其完整性是反应堆安全运行的重要前提。传统核反应堆堆芯热工水力分析方法无法满足未来先进核动力系统的高精度模拟需求。本文依托开源CFD平台OpenFOAM,针对压水堆堆芯棒束结构特点建立了冷却剂流动换热模型、燃料棒导热模型和耦合换热模型,开发了一套基于有限体积法的压水堆全堆芯通道级热工水力特性分析程序CorTAF。选取GE3×3、Weiss和PNL2×6燃料组件流动换热实验开展模型验证,计算结果与实验数据基本符合,表明该程序适用于棒束燃料组件内冷却剂流动换热特性预测。本工作对压水堆堆芯安全分析工具开发具有参考和借鉴意义。     

Natural circulation capability of Pb-Bi cooled fast reactor: PEACER

First-principle calculations were performed to analyze the natural circulation heat removal from the core of a liquid metal reactor (LMR). The lead-bismuth (Pb-Bi) was chosen as the primary coolant for the LMR system. From the single channel analysis the temperature and the pressure drop are calculated along the fuel assembly. The total pressure drop of the core is less than 100kPa due to the large pitch-to-diameter ratio and the small height of the fuel pin. The natural circulation potential is a key characteristics of the LMR design. The steady-state momentum and energy equations are solved along the primary coolant path. The calculations are divided into two parts: an analytical model and a one-dimensional lumped parameter flow loop model. Results of the analytical model indicate that the elevation difference of 4.5m between thermal centers of the core and the steam generators could remove as much as 10% of the nominal operating reactor power. The flow loop model yielded the total pressure drop and the natural circulation heat removal capacity.     

Passive cooldown performance of a 65 MW integral reactor

Advanced integral-type pressurized water reactor with a maximum thermal power of 65 MW is under development at the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute (KAERI). This 65 MW integral reactor incorporates a number of innovative design features. In the case of a transient, the passive residual heat removal system (PRHRS) is designed to cool the reactor coolant system (RCS) from a normal operation condition to a hot shutdown condition by a natural circulation, and the shutdown cooling system (SCS) is designed to cool the primary system from a hot shutdown condition to a refueling condition by a forced circulation. A realistic calculation has been carried out by using the TASS/SMR code and a sensitivity analysis has been performed to evaluate a passive cooldown capability for various system conditions such as natural and forced circulation conditions for the reactor coolant system or the passive residual heat removal system, and number of active PRHRS trains. The reactor coolant system and the passive residual heat removal system adequately remove the core decay heat by a natural circulation and the 65 MW integral reactor can cool the coolant to the SCS entry condition in the primary system for all the possible operational conditions.     

Analysis of accidents leading to local flow stagnation in parallel fuel channels of RBMK-type reactors

The RBMK-type nuclear power reactors, still operating in Russia, are graphite-moderated with vertical fuel channels, using low-enriched nuclear fuel. The main challenge, which leads to the overheating of the fuel assemblies, fuel channels and other core components in channel type nuclear reactors, is a misbalance between heat generation in core structures and heat sink, which can appear due to the loss of coolant accident. In this accidental case, the emergency core cooling system ensures the core cooling. In RBMK-type reactors this system consists of hydro-accumulators and a number of pumps, taking water from large water reservoirs. This equipment injects water into the fuel channels through the group distribution headers at high pressure. However, the direct supply of cold water from emergency core cooling system into fuel channels is possible only if check valves on group distribution headers are closed properly. If these check valves failed, the part of water would be lost through the break, the flow stagnation in channels could occur, which might lead to overheating of fuel assemblies in the fuel channels. This paper presents the results of deterministic safety analysis, performed using system thermal hydraulic code RELAP5. Using this code the reactor cooling system of RBMK-1500 was modelled and analyses of loss of coolant accidents with failure of few check valves in group distribution headers were performed. The results of the calculations are used for the development of symptom-based emergency operating procedures for RBMK-1500. The basic principles that describe the complex distribution of water flows in vertical forced circulation circuit with parallel fuel channels can be adjusted for the RBMK-1000 reactors, still operating in Russia.