An Approach to Validation of Coupled CFD and System Thermalhydraulics Codes

Abstract

This paper discusses the development of approach and experimental facility for the validation of coupled Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) and System Thermal Hydraulics (STH) codes. The validation of a coupled code requires experiments which feature two way feedback between the component (CFD sub-domain) and the system (STH sub-domain). We present results of CFD analysis that are used in the development of a flexible design for the TALL-3D experimental facility. The facility consists of a lead-bismuth thermal-hydraulic loop operating in forced and natural circulation regimes with a heated pool-type 3D test section. The goal of the design is to achieve a feedback between mixing and stratification phenomena in the 3D tests section and forced / natural circulation flow conditions in the loop. Finally, we discuss the development of an experimental validation matrix for validation of coupled STH and CFD codes that considers the key physical phenomena of interest.