Numerical simulation of turbulent flow for calibration of cross‐correlation flow measurements

Abstract

The cross‐correlation flow measurement technique, applied for measuring the coolant flow rate in a nuclear reactor, was calibrated with the use of numerical simulations of turbulent flow. The three‐dimensional domain was collapsed into two dimensions. With a two‐dimensional calculation of steady‐state flow with transient thermal characteristics the response of thermocouples to a temperature variation was calculated. By cross‐correlating the calculated thermocouple responses, the link between total flow rate and measured transit times was made. The reliability of the calibration was estimated at ±4.6%. In addition, a measured velocity profile effect was successfully predicted.

Citation

Stekelenburg, A.J.C., Van der Hagen, T.H.J.J. and Van Den Akker, H.E.A. (1994), "Numerical simulation of turbulent flow for calibration of cross‐correlation flow measurements", International Journal of Numerical Methods for Heat & Fluid Flow, Vol. 4 No. 2, pp. 143-158. https://doi.org/10.1108/EUM0000000004036