Experimental Investigation on Turbulent Heat Transfer in Liquid Metal Along a Heated Rod in a Vertical Annulus

Abstract

In a couple of European research centres, Accelerator Driven Systems (ADS) are investigated for the transmutation of radioactive waste. In one of these concept lead bismuth eutectic (LBE) is applied as coolant. In different experiments covering forced and mixed convection in turbulent LBE flow in a concentric annulus the local velocity and temperature fields were investigated at prototypical power levels and dimensions. Local heat transfer properties were extracted and compared with literature data. A new empirical correlation for the Nusselt number for the thermal entry region for turbulent forced convection in liquid metals is introduced and the transition from forced to mixed convection in LBE is characterized.