A model for dispersed flow heat transfer in rod bundles during reflood

The present model calculates the heat transfer characteristics of the non-equilibrium dispersed droplet flow regime above the quench front during reflood by solving simultaneously the wall-to-vapor interactions, wall-to-droplet interactions and vapor-to-droplet interactions by an iterative numerical method. The unique feature in the present study is various heat transfer mechanisms are combined in an overall energy balance equation, and the convective heat transfer to vapor is obtained by calculating the vapor temperature distributions at the heated walls. The reactor rod bundle geometry, axial variations of vapor temperature and flow properties, radiative heat transfers, and enhancement of heat transfer due to turbulence are considered carefully, so that the present model could be used to predict PWR (Pressurized Water Reactor) reflood heat transfers, and hence the fuel cladding wall temperature transients. In order to achieve closure of the problem formulations, the droplet size and its motion are determined from the FLECHT (Full Length Emergency Cooling Heat Transfer Program) low flooding rate series consine axial power shape test data. The model is then verified by comparing the heat transfer predictions with FLECHT low flooding rate series skewed axial power shape test data. Comparisons of predictions with data show satisfactory agreements