Thermohydraulic analysis of high-Prandtl-number fluid in complex duct simulating first wall in fusion reactor

For fusion reactors, molten salt is one of the candidates for coolant materials. Molten salt is a high-Prandtl-number fluid; thus, it is necessary to enhance the heat transfer coefficient. It is proposed that rods are inserted into a duct to enhance the heat transfer coefficient. The flow field behind the rod in the duct is visualized to compare experimental data with simulation results. The trends and distributions in the numerical simulation are the same as those in the experiment, and furthermore, the magnitudes of the time and space scales in the numerical simulation are of the same order as those in the experiment. Thermohydraulic numerical analysis confirmed that the heat transfer coefficient is improved by inserting the rod when the fluid is a high-Prandtl-number fluid and the flow field is in the turbulent region. However, it is necessary for the rods to be arranged in the streamwise direction.