Experimental and numerical investigations of three-dimensional turbulent flow of water surrounding a CANDU simulation fuel bundle structure inside a channel

Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) is used to simulate highly turbulent coolant flows surrounding a simulation CANDU® fuel bundle structure inside a flow channel. Three CFD methods are used: large eddy simulation (LES), detached eddy simulation (DES), and Reynolds stress model (RSM). The outcome of the simulations is compared with the experimental pressure data measured using an in-water microphone and a miniature pressure transducer placed at various locations in the vicinity of the bundle structure. Among all the three methods employed in developing computational models, LES provides the most accurate results for turbulent pressures.