A model of single and two-phase flow (critical or not) through cracks

The leaks through steam-generator cracks are the subject of research carried out in cooperation between EDF and UCL. A model to predict the mass flow rate with inlet subcooling has been developed, validated and published. The model takes into account the persistence of some metastable liquid in the crack. The present paper improves and extends the model, by making it applicable to all kinds of conditions prevailing in the S.G. tubes: not only subcooled water, but also saturated water, steam-water mixtures, saturated dry steam or superheated steam. Therefore, the flow at the crack inlet is analyzed and appropriate methods to initialize the numerical integration of the flow equations along the crack are proposed. The extensions of the model are still in the process of validation. However, a sensitivity analysis of its results has been made and is presented. (author)