Numerical Simulation and Analysis of Flow and Heat Transfer Characteristics in Annular Helical Cruciform Fuel Elements

He Xing; Cheng Jie; Wu Di; Zhao Wenbin; Wang Jianjun

doi:10.13832/j.jnpe.2025.01.0107

Volume 46 Issue 1

Feb. 2025

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He Xing, Cheng Jie, Wu Di, Zhao Wenbin, Wang Jianjun. Numerical Simulation and Analysis of Flow and Heat Transfer Characteristics in Annular Helical Cruciform Fuel Elements[J]. Nuclear Power Engineering, 2025, 46(1): 107-115. doi: 10.13832/j.jnpe.2025.01.0107

Citation:

He Xing, Cheng Jie, Wu Di, Zhao Wenbin, Wang Jianjun. Numerical Simulation and Analysis of Flow and Heat Transfer Characteristics in Annular Helical Cruciform Fuel Elements[J]. Nuclear Power Engineering, 2025, 46(1): 107-115. doi: 10.13832/j.jnpe.2025.01.0107

Citation:

He Xing, Cheng Jie, Wu Di, Zhao Wenbin, Wang Jianjun. Numerical Simulation and Analysis of Flow and Heat Transfer Characteristics in Annular Helical Cruciform Fuel Elements[J]. Nuclear Power Engineering, 2025, 46(1): 107-115. doi: 10.13832/j.jnpe.2025.01.0107

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Numerical Simulation and Analysis of Flow and Heat Transfer Characteristics in Annular Helical Cruciform Fuel Elements

doi: 10.13832/j.jnpe.2025.01.0107

He Xing^{1, 2
,},
Cheng Jie^{1, 2
,
,},
Wu Di^{1, 2},
Zhao Wenbin^{1, 2},
Wang Jianjun^{1, 2}

1.
College of Nuclear Science and Technology, Harbin Engineering University, Harbin, 150001, China
2.
Heilongjiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Nuclear Power System and Equipment, Harbin Engineering University, Harbin, 150001, China

Received Date: 2024-03-08
Rev Recd Date: 2024-05-09
Publish Date: 2025-02-15

Abstract

Abstract

Helical cruciform fuel, as a relatively new type of fuel element, has attracted widespread attention due to its unique advantages such as strong mixing effects and self-supporting. However, helical cruciform fuel still faces issues such as high central temperature. To address these problems, this paper proposes an annular helical cruciform fuel and investigates its internal flow and heat transfer characteristics using numerical simulation methods. The results indicate that using a cosine distribution for power calculation leads to issues such as excessive axial power gradient and overestimation of fuel peak temperature compared to the actual situation. Furthermore, compared to helical cruciform fuel, annular helical cruciform fuel exhibits stronger mixing effects and lower maximum fuel temperature. Additionally, increasing inlet velocity can further enhance the mixing between coolant channels, thereby improving heat transfer capability, but the effects of inlet temperature and power density on mixing are minor. Regarding fuel temperature distribution, the location of maximum temperature at different heights of the annular helical cruciform fuel element is influenced by the magnitude of coolant transverse velocity. Higher transverse velocity results in stronger heat transfer to the fuel element, leading to lower fuel element temperatures in these regions.
- Annular helical cruciform fuel,
- Helical cruciform fuel,
- Maximum temperature,
- Transverse velocity

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References(16)

References

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