A MTR fuel element flow distribution measurement preliminary results

Abstract

An instrumented dummy fuel element (DMPV-01) with the same geometric characteristics of a MTR fuel element was designed and constructed for flow distribution measurement experiments at the IEA-R1 reactor core. This dummy element was also used to measure the flow distribution among the rectangular flow channels formed by element fuel plates. Two probes with two pressure taps were constructed and assembled inside the flow channels to measure pressure drop and the flow velocity was calculated using pressure drop equation for closed channels. This work presents the experimental procedure and results of flow distribution measurement among the flow channels. Results show that the flow rate in the peripheral channels is 10 to 15% lower than the average flow rate. It is important to know the flow rate in peripheral channels because of uncertainties in values of flow rate in the open channel formed by two adjacent fuel elements. These flow rates are responsible by the cooling of external fuel plates.