Analysis of heat transfer characteristics in core of supercritical water cooled reactor

Seven most widely used heat transfer correlations were employed to calculate and analyze the heat transfer capacity in the core of Supercritical Water Cooled Reactor (SWCR) on rated condition. The results showed that maximum discrepancy of outlet clad temperature on average channel employing various correlations is 27 degree C. The results also showed that the clad surface temperature limitation could be satisfied even using same flowrate as average channel in hot channel when Koshizuka-Oka correlation is applied. However, 18% and 40% more coolant flowrate must be distributed into hot channel than average channel if Jackson correlation and Krasnoshchekov correlation is employed respectively. It could be concluded that the choice of heat transfer correlation will seriously affect the reactor design. It was also found that the effect of buoyancy on heat transfer could be ignored on rated condition of SWCR. (authors)