Annulus Gas System Flow Tests: Experiment and Analysis

Abstract

Four, eleven and twelve-channel strings from the Annulus Gas System (AGS) of Bruce Unit B were selected to measure hydraulic and mixing parameters. carbon dioxide (CO₂) gas was used at different flow rates to cover the laminar and turbulent flow regimes. Methane (CH₄) was used as a tracer gas to simulate a water leak into the AGS in order to measure system response and circuit time.

The results of the test agree with the predicted pressure drops. The circuit time varied with the number of channels in the string. With a flow of 8 .9 L/min. the circuit time was 15 minutes for a string of four-channels and 50 minutes for a string of 12 channels.