Doctoral Dissertations

Keywords and Phrases

Conjugate Heat Transfer; Lower Plenum; Pressurizer; Reactor Core; Small Modular Reactor; Turbulent Flow

Abstract

"This dissertation focuses on computational design of a PWR-type small modular nuclear reactor (SMR), and analysis of coolant thermal-hydraulics during steady-state operation. Physical design of the SMR is based on the existing AP-1000 and Small Modular Reactor designs by Westinghouse Nuclear.

The first paper discusses a two-stage simulation of turbulent flow in the lower plenum of the RPV. In the first stage, four time-dependent Reynolds-Averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) based turbulence models were used to simulate turbulent flow, compare predictions and identify an appropriate turbulence model. In the second stage, the selected turbulence model was once again used to simulate flow on a refined computational mesh (wall y+ < 1) and compared with time-averaged predictions of the Large Eddy Simulation (LES) model. The LES model was also able to capture a cut-off for the spatial frequency of inertial flow scales in the lower plenum.

The second paper uses simulation methodology established by Westinghouse Nuclear applied to resolving turbulent flow and heat transfer in a representative volume of the reactor core, as well as flow through the complex network of internal structures in the upper core. Predicted temperature profiles were in good agreement with design targets. The third paper describes a two-stage study; the first compares predictions of RANS based models in resolving turbulent flow past the integral pressurizer, identifies the most suitable turbulence model, which is used in the second stage to simulate turbulent flow and heat transfer through both, pressurizer and steam generator units"--Abstract, page iv.

Advisor(s)

Smith, Joseph D.

Committee Member(s)

Park, Joontaek
Schlegel, Joshua P.
Homan, Kelly

Department(s)

Chemical and Biochemical Engineering

Degree Name

Ph. D. in Chemical Engineering

Sponsor(s)

Missouri Technology Corporation
Missouri University of Science and Technology Small Modular Reactor Research and Education Consortium
Missouri University of Science and Technology Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering

Publisher

Missouri University of Science and Technology

Publication Date

Summer 2018

Journal article titles appearing in thesis/dissertation

  • Simulation of turbulent flow in the lower plenum of a PWR-type small modular nuclear reactor
  • CFD analysis of turbulent forced convection in the reactor core and flow past internal structures in a PWR-type small modular nuclear reactor
  • CFD design and analysis of turbulent heat transfer through the integral pressurizer unit and once-through steam generator in a PWR-type small modular nuclear reactor

Pagination

xiv, 78 pages

Note about bibliography

Includes bibliographic references.

Rights

© 2018 Vivek Murlidhar Rao, All rights reserved.

Document Type

Dissertation - Open Access

File Type

text

Language

English

Thesis Number

T 11394

Electronic OCLC #

1051221236

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