Radiative transfer during the reflooding step of a LOCA

Within the evaluation of the heat transfer downstream a quench front during the reflood phase of a Loss of Coolant Accident (LOCA) in a nuclear power plant, a numerical study has been conducted on radiative transfer through a vapor-droplet medium. The non-grey behavior of the medium is obvious since it can be optically thin or thick depending on the wavelength. A six wide bands model has been tested, providing a satisfactory accuracy for the description of the radiative properties. Once the radiative properties of the medium computed, they have been introduced in a model solving the radiative heat transfer based on the Improved Differential Approximation. The fluxes and the flux divergence have been computed on a geometry characteristic of the reactor core showing that radiative transfer plays a relevant role, quite as important as convective heat transfer.

► Radiation during a Loss of Coolant Accident in a nuclear reactor is studied. ► Radiative transfer is involved in a high temperature vapor-droplet mixing. ► RTE is solved in a 3D configuration using an IDA-T4 method. ► Flux and flux divergence are computed in various situations. ► The effects of quadrature and spectral resolution are discussed.