Mechanism analysis on flow excursion of a natural circulation with low steam quality

Flow excursion was observed on the natural circulation test loop HRTL-5, which simulates the geometry and system design of the 5 MW nuclear heating reactor. By means of self-developed computational codes, a set of tools used for analyzing the flow characteristics of the natural circulation have been presented, including the characteristic curves, operational curve and the bifurcation curve. The two-dimensional disturbance analysis is adopted to explain the mechanism of the flow excursion. Analytical result shows: (1) flow excursion can occur in a natural circulation system at a suitable geometry and thermal–hydraulic conditions. (2) Characteristic curves, operational curve, bifurcation curve, and the two-dimensional disturbance analysis are the available method to analyze the flow excursion of the natural circulation. (3) The flow excursion is prior to the low steam quality density wave oscillation. (4) The onset of the flow excursion is the tangency point of the drive force curve and the flow resistance curve. (5) To operate at low heat flux to increase the inlet temperature is the effectual approach to transfer from the pressurized water state to the boiling water state, in which the flow excursion and the low steam quality density wave oscillation can be avoided.