Hydraulics in the RPV lower-plenum of EPR

The in-core instrumentation penetrations of the European Pressurised water Reactor (EPR) have been removed from RPV-bottom to RPV-head, leaving empty the lower plenum of the RPV (Reactor Pressure Vessel). In a lower plenum with no internal structure, huge vortices may appear, with negative consequences, such as high disturbance of the core inlet flow distribution, and high increase of the RPV pressure loss. FRAMATOME ANP developed a specific Flow Distribution Device (FDD), annular shaped, located in the RPV lower plenum below the core support plate, which prevents huge vortices from appearing and guarantees a satisfying flow distribution at core inlet in normal operating conditions. The design of the FDD has been optimised with a numerical approach, using the 3-D CFD-code STAR-CD, previously qualified on scale mockup tests. The model developed represents the EPR RPV from the cold leg to core inlet. Thus, the flow distribution at core inlet, the mixing between loop-flows upstream core inlet and the pressure loss in the lower plenum can be evaluated. The optimised FDD provides satisfying performances for all these relevant functional items. (author)