CFD analysis of heat transfer phenomena on first wall of TBM with high pressurized helium gas coolant

Abstract

Paper presented at the 7th International Conference on Heat Transfer, Fluid Mechanics and Thermodynamics, Turkey, 19-21 July, 2010.

Conventional Test Blanket Module (TBM) design concepts adopt the high pressurized helium gas as the coolant. Thus for the development of the TBM design concept and the validation of the safety and high efficiency of the power conversion system, it should be preceded to investigate the thermal­ hydraulic characteristics of the high pressurized helium gas. The experimental studies on the heat transfer phenomena of helium gas at TBM condition are rare, and in consequence, few heat transfer correlations are developed for high pressurized helium gas. Therefore, the experimental investigation on the heat transfer phenomena of the helium gas under the TBM conditions is required. This study is the preliminary analysis for prepare the design of experimental facilities which is simulated the heat transfer phenomena with helium gas coolant. For this, literature survey of the conventional correlations and CFD analysis were performed. Operating pressure, inlet velocity and surface heat flux are selected for the main variable of the CFD analysis. CFD results show that helium heat transfer coefficient increases with operating pressure and inlet velocity, but remains constant with variation of surface heat flux. Comparison with the results from the CFD analysis and the conventional correlation reveals the overestimation of conventional correlation results at the high Reynolds number regime which belongs to the TBM condition. Finally, the new correlation to analyze the TBM heat transfer phenomena is required.