Thermal analysis safety margins using ABAQUS for the MP-2 experiment in the advanced test reactor

Grant L. Hawkes, Douglas S. Crawford, Gregory K. Housley

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

2 Scopus citations

Abstract

The Mini-Plate 2 (MP-2) irradiation test is a fueled experiment designed for irradiation in multiple test locations in the Advanced Test Reactor (ATR). MP-2 is considered a non-instrumented drop-in test where small aluminum-clad fuel plate samples are cooled directly by the ATR Primary Coolant System (PCS) water. The MP-2 fuel plate experiment will be irradiated in several different irradiation locations of the ATR. This fueled experiment contains aluminum-clad fuel mini plates consisting of monolithic U-Mo. Four different types of fuel plates were analyzed. A thermal analysis has been performed on the MP-2 experiment to be irradiated in the ATR at Idaho National Laboratory (INL). A new technique for calculating Departure from Nucleate Boiling Ratio (DNBR) and Flow Instability Ratio (FIR) using the commercial finite element and heat transfer code ABAQUS is demonstrated. This new technique calculates DNBR for the fuel plate surfaces and FIR for all water components for each finite element surface and node. Pressure drop data is fed into the calculations in order to geometrically calculate the water saturation temperature. Results from the DNBR and FIR calculations are displayed with the ABAQUS post processor named Viewer. By calculating these parameters at each location in the finite element model, conservatism is replaced with accuracy. This allows for a greater margin for the thermal hydraulic safety parameters.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationASME 2018 Nuclear Forum, NUCLRF 2018, collocated with the ASME 2018 Power Conference and the ASME 2018 12th International Conference on Energy Sustainability
PublisherAmerican Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME)
ISBN (Electronic)9780791851548
DOIs
StatePublished - 2018
Externally publishedYes
EventASME 2018 Nuclear Forum, NUCLRF 2018, collocated with the ASME 2018 Power Conference and the ASME 2018 12th International Conference on Energy Sustainability - Lake Buena Vista, United States
Duration: Jun 24 2018Jun 28 2018

Publication series

NameASME 2018 Nuclear Forum, NUCLRF 2018, collocated with the ASME 2018 Power Conference and the ASME 2018 12th International Conference on Energy Sustainability

Conference

ConferenceASME 2018 Nuclear Forum, NUCLRF 2018, collocated with the ASME 2018 Power Conference and the ASME 2018 12th International Conference on Energy Sustainability
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CityLake Buena Vista
Period06/24/1806/28/18

Funding

Work supported by the U.S. Department of Energy, USHPRR Program, Idaho Operations Office Contract DE-AC07-05ID14517.

FundersFunder number
U.S. Department of EnergyDE-AC07-05ID14517

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