In this paper, the first of a series, we propose a novel approach, based on Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD), to understand the complex transverse thermalhydraulic processes in the dual-channel cable-in-conduit conductors (CICC), which are used for the superconducting magnets of the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER). Advanced 2D and 3D CFD, including sophisticated turbulence models, is used to compute the mass flow rate corresponding to an imposed pressure drop in ribroughened pipes, including spirals mimicking the central channel of an ITER CICC and used in several experiments. The results of the calculation are validated against measured data and can be used to deduce the friction factor f H in the central channel, throwing at the same time some light on the role played by the different parameters (Reynolds number, spiral geometry, etc.) in the central channel friction process for an ITER CICC.

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