• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.32 no.6
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• pp.618-635
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• 2000

A total of 17 experimental data for the onset of slugging, which is assumed to be the precursor of the condensation-induced waterhammer (CIWH), have been obtained for various How rates of water Incorporating the most recent correlations of interfacial heat transfer and friction factor developed for a circular geometry and using an improved criterion of transition from stratified to a slug flow, two existing analytical models to predict lower and upper bounds for CIWH have been upgraded. Applicability of the present as well as existing CIWH models has been tested by comparison with two sets of CIWH data. The result of this comparison shows that the applicability of the present as well as existing models is reasonably good. Based on the present models for CIWH, a computer code entitled as“KAIST-CIWH”has been developed and sample guide charts to find CIWH free regions for a given combination of major flow parameters in a long horizontal pipe have been presented along with the results of parametric studies of major parameters (D, P, $T_{f,in}$, and L/D) on the critical inlet water flow rate（$W_{f,in}_crit$ for both lower and upper bounds. In addition, two simple formulas for lower and upper bounds that can be used in an emergency for quick results have been presented.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.53 no.11
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• pp.3635-3642
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• 2021

Natural circulation systems (NCSs) are extensively applied in nuclear power plants because of their simplicity and inherent safety features. For some passive natural circulation systems in floating nuclear power plants (FNPPs), the ocean is commonly used as the heat sink. Condensation induced water hammer (CIWH) events may appear as the steam directly contacts the subcooled seawater, which seriously threatens the safe operation and integrity of the NCSs. Nevertheless, the research on the formation mechanisms of CIWH is insufficient, especially in NCSs. In this paper, the characteristics of flow rate and fluid temperature are emphatically analyzed. Then the formation types of CIWH are identified by visualization method. The experimental results reveal that due to the different size and formation periods of steam slugs, the flow rate presents continuous and irregular oscillation. The fluid in the horizontal hot pipe section near the water tank is always subcooled due to the reverse flow phenomenon. Moreover, the transition from stratified flow to slug flow can cause CIWH and enhance flow instability. Three types of formation mechanisms of CIWH, including the Kelvin-Helmholtz instability, the interaction of solitary wave and interface wave, and the pressure wave induced by CIWH, are obtained by identifying 67 CIWH events.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Propulsion Engineers
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.110-118
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• 2021

In a liquid rocket engine system, the flow of oxidizer into the combustion chamber is controlled by the main oxidizer shut-off valve. When the valve is closed, the oxidizer flows via the recirculation line, not into the combustion chamber. In this situation, the measured pressure could be much higher than a design value because of the water hammer phenomenon. In this paper, the experiments on the water hammer in the recirculation line with different initial conditions were conducted in order to study the pressure wave produced in each case. According to the experimental results, characteristics of the pressure wave in the recirculation line depend on the initial condition. To be specific, the pressure surge is maximized in case that the shock is condensation-oriented in the end of the recirculation line.