Scaling and design of a transparent two-phase natural-circulation loop

This paper present the scaling analysis performed for the design of a one-quarter length scale, transparent model of a typical Westinghouse pressurized water reactor steam supply system. The scale model will be constructed of glass and will consist of an inverted U-tube steam generator, a pressurizer tank, a reactor vessel, an electrically heated core bundle, and appropriate hot leg, cold leg, and crossover piping. The experimental investigations to be performed in this facility include measurements of two-phase natural circulation heat transfer and two-phase natural circulation loop flow stagnation. Applications to advanced, passively safe, reactor designs will also be examined. These tests will be performed at {approximately}0.2 MPa (30 psia). This scaling analysis for a one-quarter length scale natural circulation loop indicates that the range of component dimensions for the model is within practical engineering constraints. The scaling analysis also indicates the possibly of simulating pressure transients in the low-pressure scale model by varying the power density as a function of time.