Experimental determination of the pressure drop and temperature fields in the working section of the fuel assembly model with microfuel

Abstract

Abstract The paper describes an experimental stand and a working area on a model of fuel assembly with microfuels cooled by a single-phase coolant flow at high pressures. The experiments were carried out in a wide range of operating parameters of the coolant coolant pressure p = (2 ÷ 7) MPa; mass flow rate of the coolant Gwater = (0.05 ÷ 0.5) kg/s. The experiments were carried out on the working area of the body, which is made of high-temperature ceramics. The results of pressure losses and temperature distribution of balls along the length and radius of the filling are obtained. It is shown that the hydraulic resistance coefficient obtained on the basis of experimental data is in good agreement with the Bogoyavlensky formula. Significant temperature stratification is observed along the radius of working section.