Development of a High Flow CHF Correlation for the KMRR Fuel

Abstract

A high flow critical heat flux (CHF) correlation, based on the single-pin CHF experimental data for finned and unfinned heated rods, was developed for the thermal-hydraulic design and safety analysis of the Korea Multi-purpose Research Reactor (KMRR) core. The correlation consists of dimensionless parameters such as Reynolds number, thermodynamic equilibrium quality, liquid-to-vapor density ratio, and hydraulic equivalent diameter ratio. The fin effect was taken into account in the correlation by a finned-to-unfinned heated perimeter ratio. The effects of a cold wall and non-uniform axial power distribution ore discussed to verify the applicability of the single-pin based correlation to the KMRR fuel bundle. The correlation limit departure from nucleate boiling ratio (DNBR) was determined as 1.44 from the statistical analysis of the CHF data.