Pump-induced acoustic pressure distribution in an annular cavity bounded by rigid walls

Abstract This paper describes an analytical method for estimating the coolant pump-induced acoustic pressure distribution in the inlet annulus of a pressurized water reactor. To simplify the problem, flow velocity is ignored and the walls bounding the annular cavity are assumed to be rigid. The phenomenon of beating due to slight differences in the pump blade passing frequencies is included in this analysis. An experiment based on a simple laboratory model is carried out to verify the theory, small loudspeakers being used to simulate the pumps and air as the fluid medium. Agreement between theory and measurement is good.