A scale analysis of the turbulent mixing rate for various Prandtl number flow fields in rod bundles

The turbulent mixing rate is a very important variable in the thermal–hydraulic design of nuclear reactors. In this study, the turbulent mixing rate for the flow through rod bundles is estimated with the scale analysis on the flow pulsation generated by periodic vortices that is pointed out as a main cause of the mixing in rod bundles. Based upon the assumption that turbulent mixing is composed of molecular motion, isotropic turbulent motion (turbulent motion without the flow pulsation), and flow pulsation, the scale relation is derived as a function of P/D, Re, and Pr. The derived scale relation is compared with the published experimental results and shows good agreement. Since the scale relation is applicable to various Prandtl number fluid flows, it is expected to be useful for the thermal–hydraulic analysis of liquid metal coolant reactors as well as moderate Prandtl number coolant reactors.