Investigation of the Thermal Performance of a Vertical Two-Phase Closed Thermosyphon as a Passive Cooling System for a Nuclear Reactor Spent Fuel Storage Pool

Mukhsinun Hadi Kusuma, Nandy Setiadi Djaya Putra, Anhar Riza Antariksawan, Susyadi, Ficky Augusta Imawan

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

69 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The decay heat that is produced by nuclear reactor spent fuel must be cooled in a spent fuel storage pool. A wickless heat pipe or a vertical two-phase closed thermosyphon (TPCT) is used to remove this decay heat. The objective of this research is to investigate the thermal performance of a prototype model for a large-scale vertical TPCT as a passive cooling system for a nuclear research reactor spent fuel storage pool. An experimental investigation and numerical simulation using RELAP5/MOD 3.2 were used to investigate the TPCT thermal performance. The effects of the initial pressure, filling ratio, and heat load were analyzed. Demineralized water was used as the TPCT working fluid. The cooled water was circulated in the water jacket as a cooling system. The experimental results show that the best thermal performance was obtained at a thermal resistance of 0.22°C/W, the lowest initial pressure, a filling ratio of 60%, and a high evaporator heat load. The simulation model that was experimentally validated showed a pattern and trend line similar to those of the experiment and can be used to predict the heat transfer phenomena of TPCT with varying inputs.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)476-483
Number of pages8
JournalNuclear Engineering and Technology
Volume49
Issue number3
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Apr 2017

Keywords

  • Heat Pipe
  • Passive Cooling System
  • Spent Fuel Storage Pool
  • Two-Phase Closed Thermosyphon

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