Scaling Requirements for an Experimental Facility to Study the Thermosyphoning Behaviour of a CANDU Reactor

Abstract

This paper presents scaling criteria for a thermosyphoning facility which would be used to simulate the behaviour of a CANDU reactor under boundary conditions postulated to produce thermosyphoning flows. An overall approach was chosen based on the two-phase drift-flux-based scaling techniques presented in Reference 7. The rationales behind design decisions on loop geometry, number of channels, overall scale, heat flux distribution, heater power, working fluid and conditions, pumps, steam generators, and inlet and outlet headers are discussed. The results of these decisions and the overall application of the scaling methods are then described. More detailed application leading to the conceptual design of an experimental facility will be presented in a companion paper at this conference.