On numerical simulation of fuel assembly bow in pressurized water reactors

In the second part of the paper a row model containing 7.5 fuel assemblies is introduced, investigating the effect of flow distribution at inlet and outlet boundary regions on fuel assembly bow behaviour. The post processing has been focused on the bow pattern, lateral hydraulic forces, and horizontal flow distribution. The results have revealed importance of consideration of FSI, and that an inhomogeneous inlet/outlet flow condition causes significant 'C' shaped deformation of fuel assemblies towards the core shroud. The important effect of the core shroud has been also shown.