Heat transfer and fluid flow experimental researches applied to power plants

The Experimental Engineering Division of Thermal Ractor Department at ENEA Casaccia Center is undertaking various researches in the termal-fluid-dynamics field to improve power plant performance. In particular: 1) Steam Generators (SG) in PWR. The program concerns U-tube SG improvement and SG behaviour in accident conditions. 2) Condensers. An experimental study has been performed to improve design of condenser front end head to minimize erosion phenomena. 3) Feedwater Heaters. The research aims at improving industrial design capability by assessing a new and original code. 3) Valves. In the component qualification field, a large facility for certification of safety and overflow valves has been built. Additional experiments have been performed to increase phenomenological and fundamental aspect knowledge. Concerning severe accident phenomena in nuclear plants, an experimental facility is being built to test the pool decontamination factor. Experimental studies are being carried out on inherently safe reactors