Computational Fluid Dynamics Analysis of Phase One of the OECD‐NEA Benchmark on CANDU Thermal-Hydraulics

Abstract

High-resolution Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) analyses of a 28-element CANadian Deuterium-Uranium (CANDU) fuel bundle were performed in OpenFOAM and compared to the experimental data available in the Organization for Economic Cooperation (OECD) Nuclear Energy Agency (NEA) Benchmark on CANDU Thermal-Hydraulics. Porous media models of the full experimental facility (including 12 fuel bundles) are investigated and compared to benchmark pressure drop results. The uncertainties due to mesh sizing and turbulence models are investigated alongside the porous media approximation. This study is expected to show that more development is needed if porous media modeling is to accurately flow behavior in CANDU fuel bundles.