Temperature Profile Estimation in the Core of a Sodium-Cooled Fast Reactor using CFD Modeling

The latest proposal for nuclear systems for application in space are 4th generation reactors that use liquid metals as coolant. The operating conditions, as well as its safety in these matters, is linked to its thermal and fluid dynamic behavior. This paper presents the estimation of the temperature profile of a sodium-cooled fast reactor from the conduction and convection heat transfer mechanisms. The temperature distribution is analyzed in the area of the fuel and the temperature profile of the coolant in the area of the high conductivity pipes. Is established the analysis of nuclear fuel in a one-dimensional, stationary and with power generation. In the GAP area, the analysis is carried out by natural convection, and finally, the cladding in contact with sodium by forced conduction-convection. As results, it is presented the simulation in Computational Fluid Dynamics to determine the temperature profile due to the behavior of the coolant in the pipe when subjected to a constant flow of heat supplied by the nuclear fuel pellets. The temperature profile will allow us to determine the parameters to establish the operating conditions of secondary power conversion systems.