Pressurized Water Reactor in OpenFOAM

dragoon_1993 · October 18, 2019, 07:56

Hello Everyone !
Dear Foamers !

Couple months ago i decided to learn more about OpenFOAM. I`ve already mastered basics thanks to this forum and couple courses and i thought it could be a fantastic idea to use it with my thesis. I`m strongly interested in the behaviour of nuclear reactors especially from thermo-hydraulics point of view. I decided to learn about functionality of OpenFOAM in this direction but i can`t find any basics which i could start from. I'm writing this thread cause i`m looking for a person who has managed to solve problem with Pressurized Nuclear Reactor (PWR) and could show me the way or maybe give me interesting materials which could help me.

Geometry - I saw some simple geometries f.e:
https://sketchfab.com/3d-models/pwr-...36f2074969f3cb
Firstly, i`m wondering only about core behaviour. How water is passing through the core and how should i create my geometry. I`ll use SOLIDWORKS to build this geometry.
Mesh - that`s the next iteretion. I think that SOLIDWORKS might mesh generator add-on
Equations - that`s the main thing of whole problem. What should i consider in creating whole and what kind of equations are used

Thanks in advance !

BlnPhoenix · October 22, 2019, 09:55

Have you studied the literature for CFD simulations in Pressurized Water Reactors?

I think you should find couple of papers. To my knowledge two-phase flow in nuclear reactors was one of fields of interest for CFD research in the past.

In general: I would start simple with a isothermal, single phase flow in your domain. And gradually implement further boundary Conditions (heat transfer, phase change etc.) depending on your goal of study.

dragoon_1993 · November 7, 2019, 11:48

Hello BlnPhoenix !

I found interesing position : "Comparative study for modeling reactor internal geometry in CFD simulation of PWR and PHWR internal flow e Nuclear regulatory perspective". Could be helpfull.
So i need to iteratively arm my case with simple equations. I`ll look into it.

I can`t imagine how i can build my geometry of this reactor and mesh it properly to start implement those simple equations and boundary conditions.
Does my reactor could be modelled in OpenFoam as a some region filled with fluid that has some surfaces inside (mean fissile fuel rods) which gets very hot while reactions is propagating. Fluid gain heat through convection and then moves to an exit with higher temperature. Should i hire one from heat conduction solvers with turbulent and multiphase flow ?. I have read about buoyantBoussinesqFoam

Another aspectis of course moderation ! But I haven't found any solutions...yet.
I would like to build quasi-real case - that`s my goal.

Greetings

October 18, 2019, 07:56	Pressurized Water Reactor in OpenFOAM	#1
dragoon_1993 New Member Sebastian Join Date: May 2019 Location: Warszawa Posts: 2 Rep Power: 0	Hello Everyone ! Dear Foamers ! Couple months ago i decided to learn more about OpenFOAM. I`ve already mastered basics thanks to this forum and couple courses and i thought it could be a fantastic idea to use it with my thesis. I`m strongly interested in the behaviour of nuclear reactors especially from thermo-hydraulics point of view. I decided to learn about functionality of OpenFOAM in this direction but i can`t find any basics which i could start from. I'm writing this thread cause i`m looking for a person who has managed to solve problem with Pressurized Nuclear Reactor (PWR) and could show me the way or maybe give me interesting materials which could help me. Geometry - I saw some simple geometries f.e: https://sketchfab.com/3d-models/pwr-...36f2074969f3cb Firstly, i`m wondering only about core behaviour. How water is passing through the core and how should i create my geometry. I`ll use SOLIDWORKS to build this geometry. Mesh - that`s the next iteretion. I think that SOLIDWORKS might mesh generator add-on Equations - that`s the main thing of whole problem. What should i consider in creating whole and what kind of equations are used Thanks in advance !

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October 22, 2019, 09:55		#2
BlnPhoenix Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: Germany Posts: 292 Rep Power: 14	Have you studied the literature for CFD simulations in Pressurized Water Reactors? I think you should find couple of papers. To my knowledge two-phase flow in nuclear reactors was one of fields of interest for CFD research in the past. In general: I would start simple with a isothermal, single phase flow in your domain. And gradually implement further boundary Conditions (heat transfer, phase change etc.) depending on your goal of study.

November 7, 2019, 11:48		#3
dragoon_1993 New Member Sebastian Join Date: May 2019 Location: Warszawa Posts: 2 Rep Power: 0	Hello BlnPhoenix ! I found interesing position : "Comparative study for modeling reactor internal geometry in CFD simulation of PWR and PHWR internal flow e Nuclear regulatory perspective". Could be helpfull. So i need to iteratively arm my case with simple equations. I`ll look into it. I can`t imagine how i can build my geometry of this reactor and mesh it properly to start implement those simple equations and boundary conditions. Does my reactor could be modelled in OpenFoam as a some region filled with fluid that has some surfaces inside (mean fissile fuel rods) which gets very hot while reactions is propagating. Fluid gain heat through convection and then moves to an exit with higher temperature. Should i hire one from heat conduction solvers with turbulent and multiphase flow ?. I have read about buoyantBoussinesqFoam Another aspectis of course moderation ! But I haven't found any solutions...yet. I would like to build quasi-real case - that`s my goal. Greetings