Construction of a Flow Loop for Supercritical Heat Transfer Experiments

Abstract

This paper presents a progress report on the design and construction of an experimental facility suitable for supercritical heat transfer (SCHT) studies with carbon-dioxide flow in circular tubes with diameters of 8 mm and 22 mm and in a three-rod bundle subassembly. Details of the loop, including the pumping, heating and cooling systems as well as the instrumentation and control devices are described. Measurements of surface temperature will be obtained along the tubes and the rods in the bundle over a range of flow conditions corresponding to normal, enhanced and deteriorated heat transfer. Future work includes measurements of turbulence and fluctuating temperature characteristics in supercritical CO₂ flow through the 22 mm tube using hot-wires and cold-wires, respectively. These measurements will complement and expand the available database for the range of conditions relevant to the Canadian SCWR.