Numerical Investigation of On-Power Refueling in a Natural Circulation Boiling Water Reactor

Most two-phase heat exchangers consist of multiple parallel boiling channels, and studies concerning multi-channel instabilities in boiling systems are of significant interest. The natural circulation boiling water reactor (NCBWR) considered in the present work is a pressure tube type boiling light water cooled and heavy water moderated reactor. The primary heat transport loop, comprising a number of parallel channels, is modeled by RELAP5/MOD3.4. The effects of on-power refueling on the flow rate and stability of the system are investigated. The conditions under which a sustainable flow rate can be maintained during on-power refueling are explored. It is observed that during on-power refueling, a near-stagnation condition or low-velocity reverse flow can occur, the possibility of reverse flow being higher at low pressures and low powers.