Features of Mass Transfer of Noncondensable Gases by Primary Coolant of Nuclear Icebreaker Reactors

Abstract

To study the characteristics of the mass transfer of noncondensable gases in the primary loop of the nuclear icebreaker reactors, models of the core and the up-core space were developed using the Relap5 (USA) and Fluent (USA) codes and modeling of interphase mass transfer and transport of the gas phase by the water coolant was performed on these sections. Spatial non-uniformity of the content of undissolved gases, which arises as a result of vapor-gas bubbles concentrating in the vortex structures of the flow and resulting in a significant reduction of their dissolution rate, was revealed. This must be taken into account in the analysis of the operation of the primary loop equipment of nuclear icebreakers (hydrogen absorption in the titanium alloys of steam-generator piping, nodular corrosion of the zirconium cladding of the fuel rods).