Heat transfer experiments on fuel subassembly transfer pot for JSFR

Abstract

Japan sodium-cooled fast reactor is going to adopt an advanced fuel handling system. As for ex-vessel spent fuel handling, a transfer pot with two fuel subassembly positions has been developed so as to shorten refueling period increasing plant availability. The pot is required to provide sufficient cooling capability in case of transportation malfunction. To evaluate cooling capacity of the transfer pot, a mockup pot has been fabricated and heat transfer experiments have been conducted on the mockup pot.

JSFR key technology evaluation on fuel handling system

“…The experimental apparatus, simulating the most severe condition of stoppage of the transfer pot in the guide tube on the way from the reactor vessel, is composed of the test pot and guide tube, whose cross section including fin configurations is full-scale to confirm the effect of fin and coating performance in actual condition. The experimental results of emission cooling performance are shown in Figure 7 [13]. Those experimental results are categorized into three groups from the viewpoint of surface conditions of the pot and guide tube as follows:…”

“…As the thermal output of the pot grows, the emission from the pot is observed to reduce due to deposition on the guide A three-dimensional (3D) analysis model using CFX code for heat transfer evaluation of the JSFR fuel Figure 7. Experimental results of emission cooling [13].…”

“…The cooling capacity of the sodium pot for the demonstration JSFR is 35 kW. To evaluate cooling performance of the sodium pot, a mockup was fabricated and cooling performance was tested [13]. The fabricated mockup pot is shown in Figure 6.…”