Counter-Current Flow Limitation at the Junction Between the Surge Line and the Pressurizer of a PWR

Abstract

An experimental study on counter-current flow limitation (CCFL) in vertical pipes is carried out to understand CCFL in the surge line in a PWR. Several upper tanks corresponding to the pressurizer and a lower tank are used to investigate effects of tank geometry and water levels in the tanks on CCFL characteristics. The experimental data clearly show that CCFL depends on the tank geometry and the water level, and therefore, these factors must be taken into account when modelling characteristics of CCFL in vertical pipes.