Startup transient simulation for natural circulation boiling water reactors in PUMA facility

• DOI: 10.1016/j.nucengdes.2005.11.002
• Publication Date: 2006-07-22T11:16:01Z
• Authors: S. Kuran; Y. Xu; X. Sun; L. Cheng; H.J. Yoon; S.T. Revankar; M. Ishii; W. Wang
• Keywords: 0202 electrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineering; 02 engineering and technology; 7. Clean energy

In view of the importance of instabilities that may occur at low-pressure and -flow conditions during the startup of natural circulation boiling water reactors, startup simulation experiments were performed in the Purdue University Multi-Dimensional Integral Test Assembly (PUMA) facility. The simulations used pressure scaling and followed the startup procedure of a typical natural circulation boiling water reactor. Two simulation experiments were performed for the reactor dome pressures ranging from 55 kPa to 1 MPa, where the instabilities may occur. The experimental results show the signature of condensation-induced oscillations during the single-phase-to-two-phase natural circulation transition. The results also suggest that a rational startup procedure is needed to overcome the startup instabilities in natural circulation boiling water reactor designs.