Development and application of a novel technique for the measurement of mixing between subchannels

In this thesis we present the development of an experimental method for the measurement of mixing between coupled subchannels through the use of thermal traces.As this method can be applied to compact heterogeneous subchannels with high water flows and with presence of inserts and appendages, it is specially suited for the development of nuclear fuel elements, while showing advantages over other mixing measurement methods.The development of the method included the conceptual analysis of feasibility and application frame.Then the components necessary for the application of the technique to an experimental rig were developed and constructed, the most relevant being the high heat flux superficial heaters and a robust, low intrusivity, and a temperature measurement system with a precision better than 3mK.Preliminary tests were carried out to verify the technique, these included sensibility studies to flow rate and input power changes, settling time measurements, long term stability measurements and so forth. Also different error sources and their relative importance were analyzed.First, the method was applied to a channel of annular flow and then to a channel with three parallel rods generating four subchannels.Latter, measurements of inter subchannel mixing and mixing promoter performance assessment were carried out.The method developed allowed the proper measurement of the main parameters related to mixing, showing great potential as a design tool for nuclear fuel elements