Experiments on the Phase Separation Phenomena in CANDU Reactor Headers

A test apparatus was designed and constructed to simulate the multiple feeder pipes of CANDU reactor inlet/outlet headers, and inception criteria on the phase separation phenomena (gas entrainment and liquid entrainment) have been experimentally investigated using the test apparatus. The phase separation phenomena through a side brandch and a -36 degree inclined branch were intensively investigated, and working fluids were air and water at room temperature and near atmospheric pressure. Ultrasonic level measurement system was adopted in order to accurately measure the water level in the simulated reactor header. The present experimental results on the phase separation phenomena through the side and -36 degree inclined branches agreed relatively well with the KfK's empirical correlations for side branch. It was found that the interaction of the flow fields between the neighboring branches was not significant