
Thermal-Hydraulic Principles and Safety Analysis Guidelines of PWRs and iPWR-SMRs
- 1st Edition - March 3, 2025
- Imprint: Academic Press
- Editor: Christophe Herer
- Language: English
- Paperback ISBN:9 7 8 - 0 - 3 2 3 - 9 0 4 9 4 - 0
- eBook ISBN:9 7 8 - 0 - 3 2 3 - 9 0 4 9 5 - 7
Thermal-Hydraulic Principles and Safety Analysis Guidelines of PWRs and SMRs presents key phenomena, models, advantages, and drawbacks of current methods. The book guides the re… Read more

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Request a sales quoteThermal-Hydraulic Principles and Safety Analysis Guidelines of PWRs and SMRs presents key phenomena, models, advantages, and drawbacks of current methods. The book guides the reader through the preparation and review of the thermal-hydraulic part of a safety analysis report and equips them with the knowledge to perform thermal-hydraulic studies with confidence. Starting with an introduction to thermal-hydraulics and two-phase flows, the book covers key models such as the Homogeneous Equilibrium Model and Drift Flux, Main Phenomena and associated models, including critical flow, heat transfer and void fraction, and then moves onto cover nuclear safety analyses and code.
It contains fundamental tools to help readers understand complicated phenomena that can happen in various accidental conditions, along with key principles to help readers when using advanced simulation tools. This book is suitable for a broad audience, including non-specialized readers seeking independent advice and technicians or engineers working in nuclear facilities. It will provide students in engineering disciplines with a solid understanding of the thermal-hydraulics of nuclear reactors and safety, which will enable them to work safely and efficiently and drive research forward.
It contains fundamental tools to help readers understand complicated phenomena that can happen in various accidental conditions, along with key principles to help readers when using advanced simulation tools. This book is suitable for a broad audience, including non-specialized readers seeking independent advice and technicians or engineers working in nuclear facilities. It will provide students in engineering disciplines with a solid understanding of the thermal-hydraulics of nuclear reactors and safety, which will enable them to work safely and efficiently and drive research forward.
- Presents key phenomena and basic models without complex equations
- Focuses on DNB and LOCA thermal-hydraulic safety analyses
- Includes simple applications and tools for the evaluation of order of magnitude
Students in engineering disciplines who require knowledge of thermal hydraulics of nuclear reactors and safety, technicians and engineers in nuclear settings, non-nuclear engineers working in a nuclear setting
- Title of Book
- Cover image
- Title page
- Table of Contents
- Copyright
- Contributors
- Preface
- Acknowledgment
- Chapter 1. Introduction: Thermal-hydraulics and two-phase flows
- 1.1 A tentative definition of thermal-hydraulics
- 1.2 Thermal-hydraulics challenges
- 1.3 Thermal-hydraulics applications and new perspectives
- 1.4 About this book
- Chapter 2. Key definitions
- 2.1 Single-phase flow variables
- 2.1.1 Space and time averages
- 2.1.2 Flow parameters and transport properties
- 2.1.3 Characteristics values, dimensionless numbers, and hydraulic diameter
- 2.2 Thermodynamic relations
- 2.2.1 Evaluation of the energy
- 2.2.2 Enthalpy balance
- 2.2.2.1 Energy contribution
- 2.2.2.2 Energy transfer
- 2.2.3 Phase change
- 2.2.4 Thermodynamic quality
- 2.3 Two-phase flow variables
- 2.3.1 Void fraction and slip ratio
- 2.3.2 Other variables and drift flux parameters
- 2.3.3 Flow regimes
- Chapter 3. Key models for two-phase flows
- 3.1 Two-phase average fluid properties
- 3.2 Homogeneous equilibrium model
- 3.3 Separated flow model
- 3.4 Two-fluid model
- 3.5 Two-fluid model with drift flux
- Chapter 4. Main phenomena and associated models
- 4.1 Void fraction
- 4.1.1 Void fraction in saturated two-phase flow
- 4.1.1.1 Models with slip ratio
- 4.1.1.2 Models with drift flux
- 4.1.2 Void fraction in subcooled regime
- 4.2 Pressure and flow rate
- 4.2.1 Head losses
- 4.2.1.1 Friction or regular head loss
- 4.2.1.2 Singular head loss
- 4.2.2 Reversible pressure changes
- 4.2.3 Flow rate
- 4.2.4 Pumping power
- 4.2.5 Pump cavitation
- 4.3 Heat transfer
- 4.3.1 Heat transfer from single-phase to two-phase flows
- 4.3.1.1 Single-phase heat transfer in laminar flow
- 4.3.1.2 Heat transfer in subcooled flow boiling
- 4.3.1.3 Saturated flow boiling heat transfer
- 4.3.2 Temperature distribution in a PWR fuel rod
- 4.3.2.1 Temperature distribution in the fuel pellet
- 4.3.2.2 Temperature distribution in the gap and the cladding
- 4.3.2.3 Temperature distribution in rod
- 4.4 Critical flow
- 4.4.1 Single-phase critical flow for an ideal gas
- 4.4.2 Critical two-phase flow
- 4.4.2.1 Upstream saturated conditions
- 4.4.2.2 Upstream subcooled conditions
- 4.4.3 Other considerations on critical flow
- 4.5 Countercurrent flow
- 4.5.1 Prediction of flooding
- 4.5.2 Prediction of flow reversal
- 4.5.3 CCFL in complex geometries
- 4.6 Condensation
- 4.6.1 Principles
- 4.6.1.1 Safety condenser
- 4.6.1.2 Condensation in containment
- 4.6.2 Models
- 4.6.2.1 Condensation of pure vapor
- 4.6.2.2 Condensation in the presence of non-condensable gas
- 4.7 Natural circulation
- 4.7.1 Principles
- 4.7.2 Models for natural circulation (steady state)
- 4.7.2.1 Buoyancy
- 4.7.2.2 Resulting mass flow rate
- 4.8 Some definitions and phenomena specific to transient situations
- 4.8.1 Residual power
- 4.8.2 Steam binding
- 4.8.3 Stagnation point
- 4.8.4 Reflux condensation
- 4.8.5 Loop seal
- 4.8.6 Chimney effect
- 4.8.7 Nonequilibrium effect
- Chapter 5. General principles of nuclear reactor safety analysis
- 5.1 Introduction
- 5.1.1 Requirements and guides on safety analysis
- 5.1.2 Order of magnitude of thermal-hydraulic parameters in PWR and LW-SMR
- 5.2 Nuclear safety objectives and some safety concepts
- 5.3 Methodology for deterministic thermal-hydraulic analyses and BEPU
- 5.3.1 Deterministic safety analysis process
- 5.3.1.1 Deterministic safety analysis process
- 5.3.1.2 Identification of postulated initiating events (PIEs) and design-basis events (DBEs)
- 5.3.1.3 Definition of acceptance criteria
- 5.3.1.4 Selection and validation of calculation tools
- 5.3.1.5 Choice of DSA approaches
- 5.3.1.6 Evaluation of accident analysis results to quantify margins
- 5.3.2 The combined DSA approach
- 5.3.3 Best estimate plus uncertainty DSA approach
- 5.3.4 Realistic DSA approach
- 5.3.5 Extended BEPU or integrated DSA and PSA approach (IPDSA)
- 5.4 Calculation tools and overall validation
- 5.4.1 Thermal-hydraulic system codes
- 5.4.2 Subchannel analysis codes
- 5.4.3 Overall validation of calculation tools
- 5.4.3.1 Overall validation for passive systems and SMRs
- 5.5 Conclusion
- Chapter 6. Innovative passive systems
- 6.1 Description of innovative passive systems
- 6.2 Specificities of innovative passive systems
- 6.3 Models for passive systems (steady state)
- Chapter 7. Departure from nucleate boiling (DNB) analyses
- 7.1 Boiling crisis
- 7.2 CHF correlations
- 7.2.1 CHF correlations for flow inside a round tube
- 7.2.1.1 Forms of the correlations
- 7.2.1.2 Variables of the correlations
- 7.2.1.3 Examples of CHF correlations in tubes
- 7.2.1.4 Application of CHF correlations in tubes
- 7.2.2 CHF correlations for PWR
- 7.2.2.1 Uniform axial flux shape
- 7.2.2.2 Nonuniform axial flux shape
- 7.2.3 CHF correlations for SMR
- 7.2.4 Analytical models and novel approaches for boiling crisis
- 7.3 DNB analyses
- 7.3.1 Requirements for the CHF correlation
- 7.3.2 Applications of the correlation
- Chapter 8. LOCA analyses and associated safety demonstration
- 8.1 Large break LOCA
- 8.1.1 Course of events
- 8.1.1.1 Blowdown
- 8.1.1.2 Refill
- 8.1.1.3 Reflood
- 8.2 Intermediate and small break LOCA
- 8.2.1 Course of events
- 8.2.2 Prevailing parameters
- 8.2.2.1 Break position
- 8.2.2.2 Break size
- 8.2.3 Plant design
- 8.2.3.1 Safety injection flow rate
- 8.2.3.2 Pump trip
- 8.2.4 Importance of the SB/IB-LOCA analyses on the reactor design and operation
- 8.3 Steam generator tube rupture
- Chapter 9. Computational fluid dynamics applications and other transients
- 9.1 General approach for computational fluid dynamics (CFD)
- 9.1.1 Domain mesh
- 9.1.2 Closure models
- 9.1.3 Numerical solution and convergence
- 9.1.4 Verification and validation
- 9.2 Typical CFD studies for LWR and SMR applications
- 9.3 Pressurized thermal shock
- 9.4 Boron dilution
- Chapter 10. Specificities of PWR-SMRs
- 10.1 Reactor coolant system in SMRs
- 10.2 LOCA
- 10.2.1 LOCA in SMRs
- 10.2.2 Specificity of the reactor core power
- 10.2.3 Specific features of the design of the main volume
- 10.2.4 Active or passive mode for a LOCA strategy
- 10.2.5 Typical LOCA transient scenario for an integral SMR
- 10.2.6 Passive residual heat removal strategy
- 10.3 Steam generator tube rupture
- Chapter 11. Conclusion
- Chapter 12. Applications
- 12.1 Identification of parameters
- 12.2 Hydraulics
- 12.2.1 Average velocities
- 12.2.2 Reynolds number in a fuel assembly
- 12.2.3 Abrupt change of geometry
- 12.2.4 Flow rate out of a reservoir
- 12.3 Thermodynamics
- 12.3.1 Evaluation of energy
- 12.3.2 Equilibrium thermodynamic quality in a pipe
- 12.3.3 Equilibrium thermodynamic quality in a steam generator
- 12.3.4 Water needs for electricity production
- 12.4 Two-phase flows
- 12.4.1 Evaluation of void fraction
- 12.4.2 Evaluation of flow parameters
- 12.4.3 Comparison of void fraction models
- 12.4.4 Application of drift flux model
- 12.5 Natural circulation
- 12.5.1 Flow rate in an SMR
- 12.6 Loss of coolant
- 12.6.1 Decay heat
- 12.6.2 Simplified small beak LOCA in an SMR
- Chapter 13. Glossary
- 13.1 Some definitions
- 13.1.1 Best estimate
- 13.1.2 Bulk
- 13.1.3 Collapsed level
- 13.1.4 Conservatism
- 13.1.5 Enthalpy balance or heat balance
- 13.1.6 Entry length (entrance length)
- 13.1.7 Feed and Bleed
- 13.1.8 Figure of merit
- 13.1.9 Mechanistic model
- 13.1.10 Parameter of interest
- 13.1.11 Swell level
- 13.1.12 Ultimate heat sink
- 13.2 Acronyms and abbreviations
- Chapter 14. Units and symbols
- 14.1 Notation : Latin letters
- 14.2 Notation : Subscripts and superscripts
- 14.3 Notation : Greek letters
- 14.4 Dimensionless numbers
- Chapter 15. Steam tables
- 15.1 Saturated values at fixed pressures
- 15.1.1 Liquid values
- 15.1.2 Vapor values
- 15.2 Saturated values at fixed temperatures
- 15.2.1 Liquid values
- 15.2.2 Vapor values
- Index
- Edition: 1
- Published: March 3, 2025
- Imprint: Academic Press
- No. of pages: 274
- Language: English
- Paperback ISBN: 9780323904940
- eBook ISBN: 9780323904957
CH
Christophe Herer
Christophe Herer is a fluid mechanics and energy engineer. He worked for more than 23 years at Framatome in core thermal-hydraulics where he was nominated senior expert. Christophe joined the IRSN international development division IRSN in 2009 where he managed several projects in Egypt, Jordan, Mexico among others. At the IRSN thermalhydraulic simulation department since 2013, he is responsible of the development of international collaborations and of innovative passive systems assessment. Christophe is also the chairman of the OECD/NEA WGAMA 3D SYSTH activity on 3D capabilities of thermalhydraulic system codes. Christophe Herer is also a regular lecturer at the engineering school "Institut Mines Atlantique/ Ecole des Mines" in Nantes (France).
Affiliations and expertise
Institute for Radiological Protection and Nuclear Safety, Fontenay-aux-Roses Cedex, FranceRead Thermal-Hydraulic Principles and Safety Analysis Guidelines of PWRs and iPWR-SMRs on ScienceDirect