Published December 1981 | Version v1
Journal article

Free-convection cooling of blocked fuel subassemblies in pool-type liquid metal fast reactors

Creators

  • 1. UKAEA Dounreay Nuclear Power Development Establishment

Description

A theoretical analysis of the thermal hydraulics of fast reactor subassemblies with a complete inlet blockage of the coolant flow reveals that substantial rates of heat removal can be sustained through natural convection. A thermal-syphon mechanism is responsible, and shown to be capable of removing fission-product decay heat from any core subassembly in the prototype fast reactor such that the peak coolant temperatures will not exceed the boiling point. For low-rated radial breeder subassemblies the mechanism should remove fission heat at full power without the initiation of coolant boiling. (author)

Additional details

Publishing Information

Journal Title
Nucl. Energy
Journal Volume
20
Journal Issue
6
Series
Nucl. Energy.
Journal Page Range
481-493
ISSN
0140-4067