Abstract
Void fraction (i.e., the volume fraction occupied by gas) is a key parameter for determining the coolability and neutron-moderating performance of a water-cooled nuclear reactor. To develop computational multi-fluid dynamics models for determining the void-fraction distribution, experimental data of comparable quality are required. We have developed a high-energy X-ray computed tomography (CT) system to acquire three-dimensional void-fraction distributions. The CT system comprises a linear-accelerator-driven high-energy X-ray source and a linear detector array. We quantified a boiling two-phase flow in a 5 × 5 heated rod bundle at high pressure, simulating a fuel-rod bundle in a boiling water reactor (BWR). Because the axial travel of the CT system is 4 m and includes the entire BWR fuel-rod bundle, we optimized the CT imaging conditions and reconstruction method for rod-bundle visualization to reduce uncertainties due to density fluctuations in the boiling flow and imaging artifacts. We conducted a boiling experiment at a low flow rate and low thermal power and acquired three-dimensional distributions of the void fraction over a wide pressure range of 0.1–7.2 MPa. The experiment provided three-dimensional void-fraction distributions with high spatial resolution, especially in subchannel regions surrounded by rods, and the results are suitable for validating three-dimensional thermal-hydraulic analysis codes.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Article number | 101614 |
| Journal | Flow Measurement and Instrumentation |
| Volume | 69 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 2019 Oct 1 |
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ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Modelling and Simulation
- Instrumentation
- Computer Science Applications
- Electrical and Electronic Engineering
Cite this
Void-fraction measurement with high spatial resolution in a 5×5 rod bundle by linear-accelerator-driven X-ray computed tomography over a wide pressure range. / Arai, Takahiro; Furuya, Masahiro; Takiguchi, Hiroki; Nishi, Yoshihisa; Shirakawa, Kenetsu.
In: Flow Measurement and Instrumentation, Vol. 69, 101614, 01.10.2019.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Void-fraction measurement with high spatial resolution in a 5×5 rod bundle by linear-accelerator-driven X-ray computed tomography over a wide pressure range
AU - Arai, Takahiro
AU - Furuya, Masahiro
AU - Takiguchi, Hiroki
AU - Nishi, Yoshihisa
AU - Shirakawa, Kenetsu
PY - 2019/10/1
Y1 - 2019/10/1
N2 - Void fraction (i.e., the volume fraction occupied by gas) is a key parameter for determining the coolability and neutron-moderating performance of a water-cooled nuclear reactor. To develop computational multi-fluid dynamics models for determining the void-fraction distribution, experimental data of comparable quality are required. We have developed a high-energy X-ray computed tomography (CT) system to acquire three-dimensional void-fraction distributions. The CT system comprises a linear-accelerator-driven high-energy X-ray source and a linear detector array. We quantified a boiling two-phase flow in a 5 × 5 heated rod bundle at high pressure, simulating a fuel-rod bundle in a boiling water reactor (BWR). Because the axial travel of the CT system is 4 m and includes the entire BWR fuel-rod bundle, we optimized the CT imaging conditions and reconstruction method for rod-bundle visualization to reduce uncertainties due to density fluctuations in the boiling flow and imaging artifacts. We conducted a boiling experiment at a low flow rate and low thermal power and acquired three-dimensional distributions of the void fraction over a wide pressure range of 0.1–7.2 MPa. The experiment provided three-dimensional void-fraction distributions with high spatial resolution, especially in subchannel regions surrounded by rods, and the results are suitable for validating three-dimensional thermal-hydraulic analysis codes.
AB - Void fraction (i.e., the volume fraction occupied by gas) is a key parameter for determining the coolability and neutron-moderating performance of a water-cooled nuclear reactor. To develop computational multi-fluid dynamics models for determining the void-fraction distribution, experimental data of comparable quality are required. We have developed a high-energy X-ray computed tomography (CT) system to acquire three-dimensional void-fraction distributions. The CT system comprises a linear-accelerator-driven high-energy X-ray source and a linear detector array. We quantified a boiling two-phase flow in a 5 × 5 heated rod bundle at high pressure, simulating a fuel-rod bundle in a boiling water reactor (BWR). Because the axial travel of the CT system is 4 m and includes the entire BWR fuel-rod bundle, we optimized the CT imaging conditions and reconstruction method for rod-bundle visualization to reduce uncertainties due to density fluctuations in the boiling flow and imaging artifacts. We conducted a boiling experiment at a low flow rate and low thermal power and acquired three-dimensional distributions of the void fraction over a wide pressure range of 0.1–7.2 MPa. The experiment provided three-dimensional void-fraction distributions with high spatial resolution, especially in subchannel regions surrounded by rods, and the results are suitable for validating three-dimensional thermal-hydraulic analysis codes.
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U2 - 10.1016/j.flowmeasinst.2019.101614
DO - 10.1016/j.flowmeasinst.2019.101614
M3 - Article
VL - 69
JO - Flow Measurement and Instrumentation
JF - Flow Measurement and Instrumentation
SN - 0955-5986
M1 - 101614
ER -