PARITY SIMULATION OF A BOILING WATER-REACTOR SYSTEM

The analysis of transients in nuclear power plants is a complex problem normally requiring use of simulation tools. One of these tools, known as parity simulation, exploits the concept of electrical analogs of a physical system. Electrical analogs of the components of a nuclear plant are constructed and interconnected in a highly user-oriented facility known as a parity simulator. Parity simulation originated in the study of electronic network transients and spread to neutronic and fluid flow applications. This work focuses on the application of parity simulation to transient thermal hydraulic behavior of a boiling water reactor. Three distinct elements are used to simulate a boiling water reactor. The development of a single-phase flow element is described first. The governing mass, momentum, and energy equations along with other conditions are applied to a pipe section. The resulting model is then used to construct an electrical analog. The proposed analog requires non-standard components, the design and implementation of which is discussed. Subsequently, a formulation for a two-phase flow and separator elements is given. These elements are integrated to model a boiling water reactor. Results obtained for two cases are presented and compared with reference numerical solutions. © 1990.