RELAP5 investigation on subchannel flow instability

Abstract

Abstract Two-phase flow instability is a vitally important area of study for a large number of industrial systems. Density Wave Oscillation (DWO) is the most common type of flow instability caused by the change in flow rate or power in boiling systems. The code RELAP5 is used to simulate single channel, 2 × 2 subchannels, and 3 × 3 subchannels with typical BWR subchannel geometry. The onset of flow instability determinating criterion and the results of simulations are utilized to create a stable boundary. The stable boundary of a single channel is compared with those from results of other researchers. Some conclusions are made as follows. 3 × 3 subchannels are more stable than single channel and 2 × 2 subchannels. Open subchannels possess a larger stable region than close channels. The heating model is analyzed determining that asymmetrical heating has negative effect on stability as compared to symmetric heating. With the analysis of transit time, period and subcooling number, there is a positive linear relationship between the subcooling number and oscillation period.