Direct Numerical Simulation of High Prandtl Number Fluid Flow in the Downcomer of an Advanced Reactor

The design of advanced nuclear reactors [Generation IV (Gen IV)] involves an array challenging fluid-flow issues that affect its safety and performance. Given Gen designs have improved passive features, the downcomer plays a crucial role in loss-of-power scenarios. Fluid-flow behavior can involve forced to mixed natural convection, characterizing heat transfer for these changing regimes is daunting challenge. creation high-resolution numerical database potentially support development precise affordable reduced-resolution models. These models be designed based on multiscale hierarchy developed as part recently U.S. Department Energy–funded Center Excellence Thermal Fluids Applications Nuclear Energy, which help address industrial-driven associated with reactors. In this paper, simplified heated parallel plates, high Prandtl number fluid (FLiBe) considered all simulations. calculations are performed wide range Richardson numbers from 0 400 at two different FLiBe (12 24), result 40 simulated cases total. Time-averaged time series statistics, well Nusselt correlations, investigated illuminate convection behavior. calculated will instrumental understanding flow downcomer. Ultimately, we aim evaluate existing some modifications proposed.