Thermal-hydraulic characteristics of pressurized water reactors during commercial operation. Pt. 2

Steady state thermal measurements, water and shell temperature, are made in the downcomer of the steam generator of the PWR BUGEY-4. The measurements show that the flow is of a swirling type with the degree of swirl being a function of the load (power). The angular temperature distribution of water and shell exhibits a minimum that rotates from the hot leg to the cold leg with increasing load. The results also admit the conclusion that the feedwater and recirculation water are well mixed in the cylindrical section of the downcomer. Measurements and computations of fluid and shell temperatures are in good agreement for the steam generator in a state of natural circulation. For the state of forced circulation, the agreement is poor when it is assumed that the flow in the downcomer is turbulent and the steam generator outer shell is well insulated. The agreement is excellent for turbulent flow but with air leakage, or infiltration, between the steam generator outer shell and its insulation. If the hypothesis of air infiltration is ruled out, agreement between measurements and computations is much improved when the flow in the downcomer is taken as a turbulent core flow with an attendant laminar boundary layer. The existence of a laminar boundary layer would require the flat plate transition Reynolds number be enhanced by a factor of 100. This enhancement could result from the combined effects of swirl and density gradient in the downcomer. (orig.)