Effect of eccentricity on radial force and cavitation characteristics in the reactor coolant pump

Nuclear reactor coolant pump as one of the most critical equipment is only rotating in first loop system nuclear power plant. Due to asymmetric structure body, especially existence outlet segment lead a certain radial force, magnitude force directly affects work stability pump. The could under those transient complex conditions an important index its performance. To study cavitation characteristics and on cavitation, prototype exhibiting different gravity center offsets are analyzed numerically with CFD software ANSYS CFX by employing RNG k-? model two-fluid two-phase flow model. Through experiment-combined simulation, variations eccentricities characterized. As revealed from results, internal field main change after axis offset distance. influence eccentricity mainly manifested at impeller inlet inception severe cavitation. When 5 mm, performance improved. effect reflected variation direction. Compared other plans, superior mm.