Simulations of flow behavior of fuel particles in a conceptual helium-cooled spout fluidized bed nuclear reactor

Hydrodynamics of helium and fuel particles are simulated in a conceptual helium-cooled spout fluidized bed nuclear reactor. The conceptual reactor consists of an axis-symmetric column with a sharp cone inside which the fuel particles are fluidized by helium. An isothermal gas-solid two-fluid flow model is presented. The kinetic-frictional constitutive model for dense assemblies of solids is incorporated. The kinetic stress is modeled using the kinetic theory of granular flow, while the friction stress is from the normal frictional stress model proposed by (Johnson, P.C., Nott, P., Jackson, R., 1990. Frictional-collisional equations of motion for particulate flows and their application to chutes. Journal of Fluid Mechanics 210, 501-535). Detailed spatial/temporal concentration and velocity profiles have been obtained in a conceptual spout fluidized bed nuclear reactor. The influence of inlet spouting jet velocity and conical angles on flow behavior of fluid and fuel particles is analyzed. The numerical simulations show that the unique mixing ability of the spout fluidized bed nuclear reactor gives rise, as expected, to uniform particle distributions. This uniformity enhances the heat transfer and therefore the power produced by the reactor.