The complete simulation of dynamic instability in a sodium-heated steam generator

The fast reactor steam generator model NUMEL-FR has been used to simulate dynamic instability in a sodium-heated helical tube steam generator. The model successfully predicts the onset of instability using the linear DYMEL module. The model also successfully simulates the limiting amplitude of flow oscillations at an unstable operating condition, both when the oscillations are of low amplitude and when the oscillations are of large amplitude involving reverse flow during part of the cycle. (author)