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Numerical Study on the Effects of Relative Diameters on the Performance of Small Modular Reactors Driven by Natural Circulation

Author

Listed:
  • Young Jin Kim

    (Department of Mechanical Engineering, Hannam University, 70 Hannam-ro, Daedeok-gu, Daejeon 34430, Korea)

  • Byung Jin Lee

    (KEPCO Engineering and Construction Company, Inc. (KEPCO E&C), 111 Daedeok-daero, 989 Beon-Gil, Yusung-Gu, Daejeon 34057, Korea)

  • Kunwoo Yi

    (KEPCO Engineering and Construction Company, Inc. (KEPCO E&C), 111 Daedeok-daero, 989 Beon-Gil, Yusung-Gu, Daejeon 34057, Korea)

  • Yoon Jae Choe

    (KEPCO Engineering and Construction Company, Inc. (KEPCO E&C), 111 Daedeok-daero, 989 Beon-Gil, Yusung-Gu, Daejeon 34057, Korea)

  • Min Chul Lee

    (Department of Safety Engineering, Incheon National University, 119 Academy-ro, Yeonsu-gu, Incheon 22012, Korea)

Abstract

Most of the small modular reactors (SMRs) under development worldwide present the same components: an integral reactor vessel with a low-positioned core as the heat source and a high-positioned steam generator as the heat sink. Moreover, some SMRs are being designed to be driven by natural circulation during normal power generation. This work focused on such designs and on their performance, considering the changes generated by the geometric and hydraulic parameters of the system. Numerical simulations using mass, momentum, and energy equations that considered buoyancy forces were performed to determine the effects of various geometric and hydraulic parameters, such as diameters and flow resistances, on the reactor’s performance. It was found that nonuniform diameters promote velocity changes that affect the natural circulation flow rate. Moreover, the reactor’s temperature distribution depends on the steam generator tube pitch. Therefore, the hydraulic diameters of the reactor’s coolant passages should be maintained as uniform as possible to obtain a more uniform temperature distribution and a larger mass flow rate in SMRs.

Suggested Citation

  • Young Jin Kim & Byung Jin Lee & Kunwoo Yi & Yoon Jae Choe & Min Chul Lee, 2020. "Numerical Study on the Effects of Relative Diameters on the Performance of Small Modular Reactors Driven by Natural Circulation," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(22), pages 1-17, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:13:y:2020:i:22:p:5881-:d:443225
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    References listed on IDEAS

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