An analytical model for dynamics of a sodium/water reaction bubble in an LMFBR steam generator and the coupled response of the intermediate heat transport system

Abstract An analytical model and computational methods are presented to predict the dynamics of a sodium/water reaction bubble in the bulk of liquid sodium in the steam generator of a liquid metal reactor. The rate of reaction is based on a simple model including a parameter that must be deduced from test data. The computations include the coupled fluid response of the intermediate heat transport system. The analytical model was programmed in a computer code, and the computer code was used to analyze the results of large-scale SWR mockup tests. Comparison of the analytical results and the test data indicated generally good agreement despite the simplicity adopted in the reaction rate equation. Representative comparison results are presented and discussed. Implication of the empirical parameter included in the analytical model is discussed also.