CFD Modelling of supercritical flows in annulus configurations

Canadian Nuclear Laboratories (CNL) recently participated in a CFD blind benchmark exercise organised by the International Atomic Energy Authority under Coordinated Research Programme framework (IAEA-CRP). The current paper represents results from this benchmark on the square channel and circular annulus experiments performed at University of Wisconsin (UW), Madison. The experiments conducted by the UW comprised of upward flow of supercritical pressure water in an bare circular annulus and square channel configuration; of which there are (i) a high mass flow and high heat flux case, (ii) a low mass flow and low heat flux case and (iii) a isothermal case. A methodology for simulating the benchmark geometries in STAR-CCM+ CFD code was developed. Using a fine mesh, three types of turbulence models were used to predict the fluid flow and heat transfer characteristics. (author)