Modelling of the DHR heat exchanger using the computer code AC2-ATHLET

Recent interest for Small Modular Reactor (SMR) and Advanced Modular Reactors (AMR) ac- celerates research and engineering activities oriented to the design of new reactor concepts, fuel cycle closure and improvement in scientific tools. In this context, code assessment and valida- tion is one of th...

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Bibliographic Details
Author: Girón Ceballos, David
Format: master thesis
Publication Date:2024
Country:España
Institution:Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC)
Repository:UPCommons. Portal del coneixement obert de la UPC
Language:English
OAI Identifier:oai:upcommons.upc.edu:2117/412303
Online Access:https://hdl.handle.net/2117/412303
Access Level:Open access
Keyword:Nuclear reactors
Reactors nuclears
Àrees temàtiques de la UPC::Energies::Energia nuclear
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dc.title.none.fl_str_mv Modelling of the DHR heat exchanger using the computer code AC2-ATHLET
title Modelling of the DHR heat exchanger using the computer code AC2-ATHLET
spellingShingle Modelling of the DHR heat exchanger using the computer code AC2-ATHLET
Girón Ceballos, David
Nuclear reactors
Reactors nuclears
Àrees temàtiques de la UPC::Energies::Energia nuclear
title_short Modelling of the DHR heat exchanger using the computer code AC2-ATHLET
title_full Modelling of the DHR heat exchanger using the computer code AC2-ATHLET
title_fullStr Modelling of the DHR heat exchanger using the computer code AC2-ATHLET
title_full_unstemmed Modelling of the DHR heat exchanger using the computer code AC2-ATHLET
title_sort Modelling of the DHR heat exchanger using the computer code AC2-ATHLET
dc.creator.none.fl_str_mv Girón Ceballos, David
author Girón Ceballos, David
author_facet Girón Ceballos, David
author_role author
dc.contributor.none.fl_str_mv Freixa Terradas, Jordi
dc.subject.none.fl_str_mv Nuclear reactors
Reactors nuclears
Àrees temàtiques de la UPC::Energies::Energia nuclear
topic Nuclear reactors
Reactors nuclears
Àrees temàtiques de la UPC::Energies::Energia nuclear
description Recent interest for Small Modular Reactor (SMR) and Advanced Modular Reactors (AMR) ac- celerates research and engineering activities oriented to the design of new reactor concepts, fuel cycle closure and improvement in scientific tools. In this context, code assessment and valida- tion is one of the most relevant research lines in thermal-hydraulics, as well as in reactor physics modelling; promoting benchmarks against measurements and code-to-code comparisons at in- ternational level. This master thesis is realised in the framework of an internship in the start-up newcleo, which was recently founded with the purpose of developing compact and competitive Lead Cooled Fast Reactors (LFR). In the framework of an internship realised in newcleo for the fulfilment of the Master thesis, this study aims at providing a first contribution to the applicability of ATHLET code to lead cooled fast reactors (LFRs) for both primary and secondary systems and their major components. The focus of this work has been dedicated to three different topics. Firstly, the evaluation of the robustness of liquid metal - non-condensable gas interface modelling, with benchmarking activities on two different numerical solving schemes (RELAP-SCDAPSIM and ASYST, semi- implicit; and ATHLET, implicit). Secondly, the reactor’s primary and secondary loops have been modelled by means of ATHLET system code. The physical behaviour of different nodalisation options has been studied, including complex ATHLET modules, in order to achieve the most realistic conditions possible. This included the test and characterisation of ATHLET modules still undergoing validation, such as pseudo-3D modelling capabilities. Finally, the assessment of the heat transfer mechanism in a bayonet tube decay heat removal (DHR) has been carried out, including operation under different conditions. Starting from a base case DHR, optimisation of both boundary conditions and design was performed, resulting in a system capable of extracting decay heat in a safe and steady manner. It is important to note that a special effort on avoiding confidential data has been dedicated, including only open source data and calculated values derived from this data. Results obtained show the capability of the ATHLET code to cope with a liquid metal and non- condensable gas interface; while RELAP was shown to be missing some mitigation scheme to avoid numerical oscillations in physical magnitudes. This artificial oscillations may result in a loss of information about oscillations with a physical origin, if the latest is not strong enough. In addition, the interest of developing a simplified, but representative, test case of the Nuclear Steam Supply System (NSSS), for analysing code behaviour and for young engineers training purposes on a lead cooled reactor has been confirmed. A comparison of steady state variables generated with different models is included, with extra analysis regarding main parameters time evolution and steady state distribution. Finally, the validity of ATHLET was proven as a tool suitable for optimizing heat transfer mechanism and operating a bayonet tube Decay Heat Removal (DHR). Potential improvement have been proposed during the internship, mainly re- garding the loss of regenerative heat exchange between water and steam channels, outside the lead pool (cover gas region). In conclusion, the results provided confirm the interest towards ATHLET code to support Research and Development activities and training of young engineers and researchers.
publishDate 2024
dc.date.none.fl_str_mv 2024
2024-04-30
2024
2024-07-23
dc.type.none.fl_str_mv master thesis
http://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_bdcc
NA
http://purl.org/coar/version/c_be7fb7dd8ff6fe43
dc.type.openaire.fl_str_mv info:eu-repo/semantics/masterThesis
format masterThesis
dc.identifier.none.fl_str_mv https://hdl.handle.net/2117/412303
url https://hdl.handle.net/2117/412303
dc.language.none.fl_str_mv Inglés
eng
language_invalid_str_mv Inglés
language eng
dc.rights.none.fl_str_mv open access
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dc.rights.openaire.fl_str_mv info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
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eu_rights_str_mv openAccess
dc.format.none.fl_str_mv application/pdf
dc.publisher.none.fl_str_mv Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya
publisher.none.fl_str_mv Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya
dc.source.none.fl_str_mv reponame:UPCommons. Portal del coneixement obert de la UPC
instname:Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC)
instname_str Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC)
reponame_str UPCommons. Portal del coneixement obert de la UPC
collection UPCommons. Portal del coneixement obert de la UPC
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spelling Modelling of the DHR heat exchanger using the computer code AC2-ATHLETGirón Ceballos, DavidNuclear reactorsReactors nuclearsÀrees temàtiques de la UPC::Energies::Energia nuclearRecent interest for Small Modular Reactor (SMR) and Advanced Modular Reactors (AMR) ac- celerates research and engineering activities oriented to the design of new reactor concepts, fuel cycle closure and improvement in scientific tools. In this context, code assessment and valida- tion is one of the most relevant research lines in thermal-hydraulics, as well as in reactor physics modelling; promoting benchmarks against measurements and code-to-code comparisons at in- ternational level. This master thesis is realised in the framework of an internship in the start-up newcleo, which was recently founded with the purpose of developing compact and competitive Lead Cooled Fast Reactors (LFR). In the framework of an internship realised in newcleo for the fulfilment of the Master thesis, this study aims at providing a first contribution to the applicability of ATHLET code to lead cooled fast reactors (LFRs) for both primary and secondary systems and their major components. The focus of this work has been dedicated to three different topics. Firstly, the evaluation of the robustness of liquid metal - non-condensable gas interface modelling, with benchmarking activities on two different numerical solving schemes (RELAP-SCDAPSIM and ASYST, semi- implicit; and ATHLET, implicit). Secondly, the reactor’s primary and secondary loops have been modelled by means of ATHLET system code. The physical behaviour of different nodalisation options has been studied, including complex ATHLET modules, in order to achieve the most realistic conditions possible. This included the test and characterisation of ATHLET modules still undergoing validation, such as pseudo-3D modelling capabilities. Finally, the assessment of the heat transfer mechanism in a bayonet tube decay heat removal (DHR) has been carried out, including operation under different conditions. Starting from a base case DHR, optimisation of both boundary conditions and design was performed, resulting in a system capable of extracting decay heat in a safe and steady manner. It is important to note that a special effort on avoiding confidential data has been dedicated, including only open source data and calculated values derived from this data. Results obtained show the capability of the ATHLET code to cope with a liquid metal and non- condensable gas interface; while RELAP was shown to be missing some mitigation scheme to avoid numerical oscillations in physical magnitudes. This artificial oscillations may result in a loss of information about oscillations with a physical origin, if the latest is not strong enough. In addition, the interest of developing a simplified, but representative, test case of the Nuclear Steam Supply System (NSSS), for analysing code behaviour and for young engineers training purposes on a lead cooled reactor has been confirmed. A comparison of steady state variables generated with different models is included, with extra analysis regarding main parameters time evolution and steady state distribution. Finally, the validity of ATHLET was proven as a tool suitable for optimizing heat transfer mechanism and operating a bayonet tube Decay Heat Removal (DHR). Potential improvement have been proposed during the internship, mainly re- garding the loss of regenerative heat exchange between water and steam channels, outside the lead pool (cover gas region). In conclusion, the results provided confirm the interest towards ATHLET code to support Research and Development activities and training of young engineers and researchers.OutgoingUniversitat Politècnica de CatalunyaFreixa Terradas, Jordi20242024-04-3020242024-07-23master thesishttp://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_bdccNAhttp://purl.org/coar/version/c_be7fb7dd8ff6fe43info:eu-repo/semantics/masterThesisapplication/pdfhttps://hdl.handle.net/2117/412303reponame:UPCommons. Portal del coneixement obert de la UPCinstname:Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC)Inglésengopen accesshttp://purl.org/coar/access_right/c_abf2info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccessoai:upcommons.upc.edu:2117/4123032026-05-27T15:37:01Z
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