Thermalhydraulic Investigations of a Horizontal Rod Bundle Target at High-Powers During Operation

Abstract

In order to understand the complex hydraulic, thermal and structural behavior of the rodbundle target of the Swiss Spallation Neutron Source-SINQ at PSI during operation at high powers, a well-controlled experiment has been conducted by increasing the proton beam current in stops, permitting steady state heat transfer conditions to be reached at different power levels. During the experiment, the total mass flow rate, the pressure loss in the target, temperatures at various locations, pressures at the inlet and outlet of the target and structural acceleration of the target head were acquired at various powers (i.e. steady-state conditions). Experimental data are used as benchmark boundary conditions for coupled thermal-structural analysis with the aim to evaluate and indentify reliable operating conditions.