ANGELO, G.ANDRADE, D.A.ANGELO, E.TORRES, W.M.SABUNDJIAN, G.MACEDO, L.A.SILVA, A.F.2014-07-152014-07-302014-07-152014-07-302012ANGELO, G.; ANDRADE, D.A.; ANGELO, E.; TORRES, W.M.; SABUNDJIAN, G.; MACEDO, L.A.; SILVA, A.F. A numerical and three-dimensional analysis of steady state rectangular natural circulation loop. <b>Nuclear Engineering and Design</b>, v. 244, p. 61-72, 2012. DOI: <a href="https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.nucengdes.2011.12.020">10.1016/j.nucengdes.2011.12.020</a>. Disponível em: http://repositorio.ipen.br/handle/123456789/4258.0029-5493http://repositorio.ipen.br/handle/123456789/4258Free convection circuits or natural circulation systems are employed in several engineering fields. In nuclear reactors, natural circulation can be used as a passive safety system or as a main heat transfer mechanism. This work presents the results of a three-dimensional numerical analysis of a steady state rectangular natural circulation loop located at the Instituto de Pesquisas Energéticas e Nucleares/Comissão Nacional de Energia Nuclear (IPEN/CNEN-SP). Numerical results and experimental data present in this paper are discussed and compared. The model is good enough to capture 3-D effects, such as the formation of vortex structures and swirl effects.61-72openAccessreactor safetynatural convectionfluid flowthermal analysisnumerical solutionthree-dimensional calculationsArtigo de periódico24410.1016/j.nucengdes.2011.12.020https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9544-4509https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6689-3011