Experimental Studies of Coolant Temperature and Velocity on an Integrated Water Model of a Fast Reactor in Different Operating Regimes

Abstract

The results of experimental studies of a next-generation fast reactor performed using an integrated water model (scale 1:10) are presented: local velocity over height and radius of the top chamber in a plane in a direction from core center to the intermediate heat exchangers and coolant temperature in the top chamber and other elements of the circulation loop with forced circulation and emergency cool-down by natural convection. The data were obtained using a specially designed system for performing measurements which is incorporated in the bench and provides high accuracy and rate of acquisition. Stable temperature stratification of the coolant is observed in the top, cold, and pressure chambers of the reactor, elevator enclosure, and reactor vessel cooling system as well as at the exit from the intermediate and autonomous heat exchangers in different operating regimes.