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Abstract: This paper presents an analysis of heat-transfer to supercritical water in bare vertical tubes. A large set of experimental data, obtained in Russia, was analyzed and a new heat-transfer correlation for supercritical water was developed. This experimental dataset was obtained within conditions similar to those in supercritical water-cooled nuclear reactor (SCWR) concepts. The experimental dataset was obtained in supercritical water flowing upward in a 4-m long vertical bare tube with 10-mm ID. The data were collected at pressures of about 24MPa, inlet temperatures from 320 to 350°C, values of mass flux ranged from 200 to 1500kg/m2 s and heat fluxes up to 1250kW/m2 for several combinations of wall and bulk-fluid temperatures that were below, at, or above the pseudocritical temperature. A dimensional analysis was conducted using the Buckingham Π-theorem to derive the general form of an empirical supercritical water heat-transfer correlation for the Nusselt number, which was finalized based on the experimental data obtained at the normal and improved heat-transfer regimes. Also, experimental heat transfer coefficient (HTC) values at the normal and improved heat-transfer regimes were compared with those calculated according to several correlations from the open literature, with CFD code and with those of the proposed correlation. The comparison showed that the Dittus–Boelter correlation significantly overestimates experimental HTC values within the pseudocritical range. The Bishop et al. and Jackson correlations tended also to deviate substantially from the experimental data within the pseudocritical range. The Swenson et al. correlation provided a better fit for the experimental data than the previous three correlations at low mass flux (∼500kg/m2 s), but tends to overpredict the experimental data within the entrance region and does not follow up closely the experimental data at higher mass fluxes. Also, HTC and wall temperature values calculated with the FLUENT CFD code might deviate significantly from the experimental data, for example, the k–ɛ model (wall function). However, the k–ɛ model (low Reynolds numbers) shows better fit within some flow conditions. Nevertheless, the proposed correlation showed the best fit for the experimental data within a wide range of flow conditions. This correlation has an uncertainty of about ±25% for calculated HTC values and about ±15% for calculated wall temperature. A final verification of the proposed correlation was conducted through a comparison with other datasets. It was determined that the proposed correlation closely represents the experimental data and follows trends closely, even within the pseudocritical range. Finally, a recent study determined that in the supercritical region, the proposed correlation showed the best prediction of the data for all three sub-regions investigated. Therefore, the proposed correlation can be used for HTC calculations in SCW heat exchangers, for preliminary HTC calculations in SCWR fuel bundles as a conservative approach, for future comparison with other datasets and for the verification of computer codes and scaling parameters between water and modelling fluids. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Numerous Probabilistic Risk Assessments (PRAs) have shown that fire is a major contributor to Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) risks. However, prediction and estimation of the likelihood of fire-induced damage to electrical cables and circuits and their potential effects on the safety of the NPPs are still a practical challenge, particularly because of the lack of physics-based models with which to perform consistent and objective assessments. This paper contains a discussion of two models – the heat transfer and the IR “K-factor” models – to estimate the likelihood of fire-induced cable damage given a specified fire profile. The results of this research will help to (1) develop a consistent framework to estimate the likelihood of fire-induced cable failure modes, and (2) develop some guidance to evaluate and/or reduce the risks associated with these failure modes in existing and new NPPs. The models are developed (i.e., their parameters are estimated) based on the test data from various fire damage tests sponsored by the nuclear industry and the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC). Among the models evaluated, the physics-based heat transfer model is promising because it takes into account the properties and characteristics of the cables and cable materials and the characteristics of the thermal insult. This model can be used to estimate the probability of cable damage (P CD ) under different thermal conditions. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]