Investigation on the characteristics of melt jet breakup in water with both experiment and LBM methods

Hui Cheng, Jiyun Zhao*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Chapters, Conference Papers, Creative and Literary WorksRGC 32 - Refereed conference paper (with host publication)peer-review

Abstract

During a severe accident in nuclear power plant, core damage may occur due to decay heat and molten fuel may pour into and interact with water resulting in steam explosion. The energetics of steam explosion strongly depends on the initial premixing phase during which the molten fuel undergoes a coarse breakup and fragmentation process, which determines the contact area and heat transfer intension. In the experimental study, the characteristics and mechanism of melt jet breakup in water in the premixing phase of fuel-coolant interaction during nuclear reactor severe accident are investigated. Wood’s metal is used as the simulant material. The melt jet breakup experiments are conducted under different jet diameters, melt temperatures, water temperatures and penetration velocities. The breakup process is recorded by a high speed video camera. The characteristics of the breakup of the leading edge and the jet column are analyzed in detail. It is concluded that Rayleigh-Plateau instability has the dominant effect on the melt jet column breakup in water. In the numerical study, a three-dimensional color-gradient lattice Boltzmann model for immiscible two-phase flows is developed in the framework of a D3Q27 lattice to study the corium droplet breakup in water under isothermal condition. Weber number effects on the characteristics of melt droplet breakup in water are studied and discussed in detail.
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publication18th International Topical Meeting on Nuclear Reactor Thermal Hydraulics (NURETH-18)
PublisherAmerican Nuclear Society
Pages4934-4947
Publication statusPublished - Aug 2019
Event18th International Topical Meeting on Nuclear Reactor Thermal Hydraulics (NURETH-18) - Portland, United States
Duration: 18 Aug 201923 Aug 2019
https://nureth2018conference.wordpress.com/
https://www.ans.org/meetings/view-nureth2019/
https://www.ans.org/store/item-700431/
https://www.ans.org/pubs/proceedings/issue-2328/
http://www.proceedings.com/50510.html

Publication series

NameInternational Topical Meeting on Nuclear Reactor Thermal Hydraulics, NURETH

Conference

Conference18th International Topical Meeting on Nuclear Reactor Thermal Hydraulics (NURETH-18)
Abbreviated titleNURETH 2019
PlaceUnited States
CityPortland
Period18/08/1923/08/19
Internet address

Bibliographical note

Information for this record is supplemented by the author(s) concerned.

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