Simulation of Natural Convection Experiment Performed in MISTRA Containment Experimental Facility

An experiment on atmosphere mixing in a nuclear power plant containment experimental facility, which involved natural convection, was simulated with a CFD computer code. The experiment was performed in the MISTRA cylindrical vessel at CEA in Saclay (France). It involved gradual heating of structures near the vertical walls to induce buoyant flow and cause mixing of the atmosphere and breaking up of a previously established helium layer in the vessel upper region. The experiment was simulated with the CFD code ANSYS CFX. The simulation results are presented and discussed.Copyright © 2014 by ASME