RELAP5 water-hammer benchmarking via a theta-implicit finite-element algorithm

Stuart A. Walker, Arthur E. Ruggles

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contributionpeer-review

Abstract

Water hammer phenomena characterize pressure surges that can lead to pipe failure or liquid flashing. RELAP5 is a best-estimate two-phase thermal hydraulic engineering tool which solves a ID 6-equation model. RELAP5 was developed to analyze transients in nuclear power plants and the modeling of water hammer phenomena remains a benchmarking opportunity. A third-order accurate finite-element solution to the ID mass and momentum conservation principles is presented, specifically single-phase flow with wall friction. As an inviscid benchmarking example, a velocity profile is established between two constant pressure boundaries connected by a pipe segment. An instantaneous valve closure is initiated at to and the pressure and velocity profiles along the pipe segment are compared for the finite-element and RELAP5 simulations.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publication7th International Topical Meeting on Nuclear Plant Instrumentation, Control, and Human-Machine Interface Technologies 2010, NPIC and HMIT 2010
Pages1749-1757
Number of pages9
StatePublished - 2010
Externally publishedYes
Event7th International Topical Meeting on Nuclear Plant Instrumentation, Control, and Human-Machine Interface Technologies 2010, NPIC and HMIT 2010 - Las Vegas, NV, United States
Duration: Nov 7 2010Nov 11 2010

Publication series

Name7th International Topical Meeting on Nuclear Plant Instrumentation, Control, and Human-Machine Interface Technologies 2010, NPIC and HMIT 2010
Volume3

Conference

Conference7th International Topical Meeting on Nuclear Plant Instrumentation, Control, and Human-Machine Interface Technologies 2010, NPIC and HMIT 2010
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CityLas Vegas, NV
Period11/7/1011/11/10

Keywords

  • Advection
  • Benchmarking
  • Finite-element
  • RELAP5
  • Water hammer

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