Steady state thermal hydraulic modelling of WWR-S tank-in-pool research reactor for the purpose of its power upgrading

Abstract This paper presents a newly developed steady state core thermal hydraulic model (named SSTH-RR10 model) for upgrading the Egyptian first Research Reactor (ETRR-1), from its original power of 2 MWth to a higher level of 10 MWth, by considering different types of nuclear fuels. The SSTH-RR10 model is capable to predict and calculate, by means of a developed computer program, all the steady state thermal hydraulic parameters for the defined core configuration for each fuel type at 10 MWth. Three different fuel types were investigated: the reference fuel EK-10 rod type, the MTR plate type, and the IRT-4M ducted type. For each fuel type, the distribution of central fuel, clad, and coolant temperatures for average and hot channels of the core were predicted in the axial direction. Power distributions and pressure gradients were predicted as well. Moreover, the program calculates the safety limits and margins against the critical phenomena encountered such as the Onset of Nucleate Boiling (ONB), Departure from Nucleate Boiling (DNB), and the Onset of Flow Instability (OFI). Results of the SSTH-RR10 program for benchmarks of powers of 2 and 10 MWth are verified by comparing it with the published results of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), and those published for other programs such as PARET code, and very good agreement is found. The safety margins against ONB and DNB were evaluated in which the minimum DNB ratio was found to be about 3.1, which gives a sufficient margin against the DNB. The present work gives confidence in the model results and applications.