CFD Simulation of X-Ads Downcomer Thermal Stratification

TL;DR

This paper uses numerical simulation to analyze thermal stratification in the X-ADS downcomer, focusing on how flow paths and buoyancy effects influence temperature distribution and structural loads.

Contribution

It provides a detailed numerical analysis of thermal stratification phenomena in the X-ADS downcomer using CFD, highlighting the impact of flow paths and buoyancy-driven bypass flow.

Findings

Thermal stratification position and intensity can be predicted.

Flow bypass significantly affects temperature distribution.

Simulation results identify worst-case thermal load scenarios.

Abstract

This work presents a numerical simulation using CFX 4.4 of the Energy Amplifier Experimental Facility (X-ADS) downcomer channel. The simulation is focused on the Steady-State Analysis. The Intermediate Heat exchangers (IHX) of the X-ADS reference configuration are immersed in the lead-bismuth eutectic of the downcomer. Due to the absence of a physical separation between the primary coolant hot and cold collectors, two different flow paths are available in the downcomer region: inside the IHX and outside it (IHX by-pass flow). The amount of IHX by-pass flow is determined by the balance between the driving force due to buoyancy (originated by the weight difference between the cooled fluid inside the IHX and the hot outside downcomer fluid) and the IHX pressure losses. At the IHX exit the two flow paths are mixed before the core inlet. This fact provides a potential for a downcomer thermal stratification, which is influenced by the actual value of coolant flow rate outside the IHX. The amount and extension of the thermal stratification phenomena is the object of this study. The simulation allowed studying the position and intensity of the thermal stratification phenomena. Several runs have been performed. However, to limit the extension of the paper, we deal with the results of only one of the calculations performed, which resulted in the worst condition from the point of view of thermal loads on the structure. Other results obtained will be shortly recalled when needed.