RMB experimental program on the hydrodynamical behavior of fuel assemblies

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.15392/bjrs.v8i3A.1555

Keywords:

Brazilian Multipurpose Reactor, ORQUÍDEA experimental circuit, COLIBRI experimental circuit, fuel assembly

Abstract

The Brazilian Multipurpose Reactor - RMB is a 30 MW pool type research reactor, that uses Materials Testing Reactor - MTR type fuel assemblies. It has a 5x5 square array core with 23 fuel assemblies and two in-core irradiation positions, operating with upward flow and average velocities nearly 10 m/s in the fuel plates channels. The IEA-R1 is a 5 MW pool type research reactor, which also has a 5x5 square array core with 19 standard fuel assemblies, four control fuel assemblies and a central beryllium irradiation device. It operates with downward flow nearly 1.8 m/s in the channels. In order to verify and provide data and information about the dynamical behavior of fuel assemblies under nominal and critical conditions, the experimental circuit ORQUÍDEA is being designed. This circuit will permit upward and downward flow and dynamical behavior of the fuel assemblies and its parts will be tested and verified. Flow rate, temperature, pressure and differential pressure transducers are the instruments of the circuit. Endurance and critical flow velocity tests will be performed. The COLIBRI experimental circuit is being designed to make tests that allow the studies of the fluid-structure phenomenology of fuel plates similar to those of the RMB fuel assemblies when subjected to high flow velocities, which can induce pressure differences between the channels formed by the fuel plates. This work presents a preliminary design for the ORQUÍDEA and COLIBRI experimental circuits to be built at the Instituto de Pesquisas Energéticas e Nucleares - IPEN of the Comissão Nacional de Energia Nuclear - CNEN.

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Author Biographies

Walmir Máximo Torres, Instituto de Pesquisas Energéticas e Nucleares (IPEN/CNEN - SP)

Resercher at Nuclear and Energy Research institute

Pedro Ernesto Umbehaun, Instituto de Pesquisas Energéticas e Nucleares (IPEN/CNEN - SP)

Resercher at Nuclear and Energy Research institute

Miguel Mattar Neto, Instituto de Pesquisas Energéticas e Nucleares (IPEN/CNEN - SP)

Resercher at Nuclear and Energy Research institute

Antonio Belchior Jr., Instituto de Pesquisas Energéticas e Nucleares (IPEN/CNEN - SP)

Resercher at Nuclear and Energy Research institute

Roberto Longo Freitas, Centro de Coordenação RMB – RMB/CNEN

Consultant at  RMB Coordination Center

References

Descrição do Circuito Experimental do IPEN - Relatório. IPEN Internal Report. 1981/1982.

FAINER, G.; FALOPPA, A. A.; ALMEIDA, J. T. D. Circuito Orquídea: Avaliação Estrutural do Tanque de Armazenamento/Desaerador V-101. IPEN Internal Report. 05/07/2018.

FAINER, G.; FALOPPA, A. A.; ALMEIDA, J. T. D. Circuito Orquídea: Avaliação Estrutural do Pressurizador V-102. IPEN Internal Report. 05/07/2018.

ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code, Section VIII, Division 1, "Rules for Construction of Pressure Vessels". [S.l.]: The American Society of Mechanical Engineers, 2007.

FREITAS, R. L. Circuito Experimental ORQUÍDEA para Testes de Elementos Combustíveis. IPEN Internal Report. 03/05/2018.

MANTECÓN, J. G. & MATTAR NETO, M. Numerical methodology for fluid-structure interaction analysis of nuclear fuel plates under axial flow conditions. Nuclear Engineering and Design, p. 76-86, 2018.

MANTECÓN, J. G.; MATTAR NETO, M. Numerical Analysis on Stability of Nuclear Fuel Plates with Inlet Support Comb. Nuclear Engineering and Design, p. 240-248, 2019.

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Published

2021-02-09

How to Cite

Torres, W. M., Umbehaun, P. E., Mattar Neto, M., Belchior Jr., A., & Freitas, R. L. (2021). RMB experimental program on the hydrodynamical behavior of fuel assemblies. Brazilian Journal of Radiation Sciences, 8(3A (Suppl.). https://doi.org/10.15392/bjrs.v8i3A.1555

Issue

Section

XXI Meeting on Nuclear Reactor Physics and Thermal Hydraulics (XXI ENFIR) and VI ENIN

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