Subchannel Analysis of Single-Phase Flow Sodium Tests With Non-Uniform Radial Power Distributions

Subchannel analysis calculations for sodium experimental data have been performed. Performance of several conventional flow resistance and mixing models was assessed, by comparing predicted outlet temperature profiles against experimental data. By using conventional method, it was found that the results agree well with the experimental data, with RMS errors between 3.4–5.6%. Calculations by employing non-uniform control volume for each subchannel have also been performed. This variation of control volume is due to the presence of wire spacer. The subchannel control volumes are varied based on dividing every wire axial pitch into 12 segments (H/12). It is showed that this simple method is able to simulate the flow field in a relatively more realistic way. It was found that the results by employing this simple method agree well with experimental data, in which the RMS errors are between 4.1–9%. The advantages of this H/12 method are its simplicity and its ability to reproduce the flow field inside subassembly.