1) A PWR pellet diameter is 0.370 in.

and the thicknesses of the gap and clad

are 0.002 and 0.026 in. respectively. The fuel length is 12 ft. The average
linear heat generation for the system is 5.4 kW/ft. Calculate the fuel
centerline temperature for the case when the critical heat flux is observed.
The coolant temperature at the CHF condition is 635 oF and the heat
transfer coefficient for the coolant is 6500.0 Btu/hr/ft 2-oF. Clad conductivity
is 11.0 Btu/hr/ft-oF and gap convective heat transfer coefficient is 1000.0
Tm

dT

Ts

Btu/hr/ft2-oF. Use the

approach. Assume the flux depression factor
is 0.91 and the theoretical density of the fuel is 95%.
Constants and Reminders: 1 kW is 3412 Btu/hr. 1 ft is 30.48 cm.
2) A PWR pellet diameter is 0.370 in. and the thickness of the clad is 0.028 in.
respectively. Assume there is no gap. The fuel length is 12 ft. Calculate the
average linear heat generation if the fuel centerline temperature is 4700 oF.
The coolant temperature given is 635 oF and the heat transfer coefficient
for the coolant is 6500.0 Btu/hr/ft2-oF. Clad conductivity is 11.0 Btu/hr/ft-oF.
Tm

dT

Ts

Use the
approach. Assume the flux depression factor is 0.91 and
the theoretical density of the fuel is 95%.
Constants and Reminders: 1 kW is 3412 Btu/hr. 1 ft is 30.48 cm.
3) Draw the boiling curve and clearly mark the x axis and y axis, mark the
temperatures and heat transfer regimes. Assume a flow is initially at film
boiling regime and briefly describe the changes in heat transfer regimes
when the wall superheat is decreased.
4)

In the PennStates Rod Bundle Heat Transfer Experiment bundle, there are
49 cylindrical rods with outer diameter of 0.374 in. The bundle is
surrounded by a square inconnel can which is 3.5 in. in one side. One of
the single phase flow experiments performed at 1000 psia showed that the
flow velocity in the bundle is 16 ft/s.
The bundle has a power shape defined as:
q(z)=qocos(z/L) where qo = 5.0 kW/ft.

Assuming that the inlet temperature is 380 oF, calculate the clad
outside surface temperature at the mid-plane.

Calculate the frictional pressure drop for the bundle assuming the
fuel length is 12.0 ft. (Assume the rods and the can have the same
relative roughness as the drawn tubing).

Constants and reminders The moody chart you would need is attached.
At 1000.0 psia, = 54.72 lbm/ft 3, = 0.351 lbm/hr ft, g c = 32.17 lbm ft/lbf
s2,

cp= 1.0611 Btu/lbm oF, k = 0.3919 btu/hr ft oF, Pr = cp /k, Tsat =500 oF,

for turbulent flow, Nu = 0.023Re0.8Pr0.33

Nu= h x De/k
1 kW is 3412 Btu/hr
5) For a PWR fuel pin with pellet radius of 0.185 in. and fuel radius of 0.215
in., calculate the maximum linear power in kW/ft that can be obtained from
the pellet such that the centerline temperature does not exceed 2200 oF.
The coolant temperature is 585.5
coefficient is 5000.0 Btu/hr ft

F and the coolant heat transfer

2 o

F.

Fuel conductivity: 7.28 Btu/hr ft oF

Clad conductivity 45.0 Btu/hr ft oF, the clad thickness is 0.0225 in.
Helium heat transfer coefficient, 1000 Btu/hr-ft2-oF, the gap thickness is
0.0075 in.
Constants and Reminders: Assume the flux depression factor is 1.0 and
1 kW is 3412 Btu/hr
6) In a 12 ft long BWR unit channel 74 kW power in total is generated. The
coolant enters the channel at 1000 psia and 534 oF. Its flow rate is 1000
lbm/hr. Assume during a transient, system pressure drops to 950 psia.
Compare the CHF margin at the exit of the channel for the 1000 psia and
950 psia cases.
Constants and Reminders: P= 1000 psia, T = 534 oF, h = 529
Btu/lbm, density = 47 lbm/ft3
P = 1000 psia, hf = 542 Btu/lbm, hg = 1193 Btu/lbm
P = 950 psia, hf = 534 Btu/lbm, hg = 1194 Btu/lbm

P= 1000 psia, T = 534 oF, h = 529 Btu/lbm, density = 47 lbm/ft3

1 kW is 3412 Btu/hr
7) Briefly answer below questions:
a. Describe the Deans model for the gap heat transfer coefficient.
b. Describe how to calculate the wall superheat for the nucleate
boiling.
c. On the below figure clearly mark the wall and coolant temperatures
and the location of single phase heat transfer, subcooled boiling and
nucleate boiling regions, sketch the change in void fraction.

8) A fuel rod with 95% theoretical density UO 2 fuel pellets of 0.37-inches in

diameter is clad in zircaloy cladding of thickness of 0.026-inches.

The

RADIAL gap between the pellet and the clad is 0.002 inches thick and the
gap is filled with helium. The average power of the rod is 5.433 kw/ft. The
cladding conductivity is 10.5 Btu/hr-ft- 0F, and the equation for the
conductivity of the helium is given as:

kHe = 1.314x10-3xTgas0.668 , where Tgas is in 0R and is equal to (Tci +

o

115 F)

Use Deans model for the gap conductance between the fuel pellet and the
cladding

and

calculate

the

fuel

centerline

temperature

using

the

temperature dependent fuel thermal conductivity by the conductivity

integral approach. Assume the convective heat transfer coefficient on the
outside of the fuel rod is 6500 Btu/hr-ft 2-0F and the bulk coolant
temperature is 580 0F.

h gap
Deans model:

kg
Radius of Clad - Radius of Fuel 14.4x10

-6

Btu
hr - ft 2 o F

9) For PWR cylindrical solid fuel pellet operating at a heat flux equal to 53.9 x
103 Btu/hr ft2 and at a surface temperature of 752
maximum temperature in pellet in

F, calculate the

F for two assumed values of

conductivities:
k= 7.0 Btu/hr ft oF
k= 1+3e-0.0005T where T is in oC
Constants and Reminders: PWR pellet diameter is 0.306 in. Assume the
flux depression factor is 1.0.
10)

Derive Equation 5-71 of the notes.

11)

Consider a PWR reactor vessel (the dimensions of a typical PWR

vessel is given in Table 2-5 of the 2 nd chapter of the notes). By picturing the
reactor vessel as a plate as shown below, please calculate the maximum
temperature in the plate if one side of the plate is air with a temperature of
100 oF and heat transfer coefficient of 5000 Btu/hr-ft 2-oF and the other side
is water with a temperature of 580 oF and heat transfer coefficient of 9800
Btu/hr-ft2-oF. Assume from the interior surface of the vessel is subjected to
pure radiation of 1014 photons/sec-cm2 flux and 5.0 MeV/photon strength.
The conductivity constant of the vessel is 28 Btu /hr-ft- oF, linear
attenuation coefficient is 7.5 ft-1.

Thickness

water
air
Perimeter of the vessel
12)

Height

In the PennStates Rod Bundle Heat Transfer Experiment bundle,

there are 49 cylindrical rods with outer diameter of 0.374 in. and rod pitch
of 0.486 in. The bundle is surrounded by a square inconnel can which is
4.0 in. in one side. One of the single phase flow experiments performed at
1000 psia showed that the flow velocity in the bundle is 16 ft/s.
Assuming that the inlet temperature is 380 oF, calculate the heat transfer
coefficient for a unit cell of the bundle by

First calculate the mass flow rate for a unit cell by taking the flow
area of the cell into account and calculate heat transfer coefficient

Second, calculate the mass flow rate by dividing total mass flow rate
by the number of rods; and calculate heat transfer coefficient

Compare the heat transfer coefficients calculated and discuss the

results.

Constants and reminders At 1000.0 psia, = 54.72 lbm/ft 3, = 0.351

lbm/hr ft, cp= 1.0611 Btu/lbm oF, k = 0.3919 btu/hr ft oF, Pr = cp /k, Tsat
=500 oF, for turbulent flow, Nu = 0.023Re0.8Pr0.33
Nu= h x De/k
1 kW is 3412 Btu/hr
13)

In the PennStates Rod Bundle Heat Transfer Experiment bundle,

there are 49 rods with outer diameter of 0.374 in. The bundle is
surrounded by a square inconnel can which has a side length of 3.5 in.

One of the single phase flow experiments performed at 1000.0 psia

showed that the flow velocity in the bundle is 16 ft/s. The total length of
the bundle is 12 ft.. Assuming the rods and the can have the same relative
roughness as the rough pipe, calculate the friction pressure drop in the
bundle.
Constants and reminders At 1000.0 psia, = 54.72 lbm/ft3, = 0.351
lbm/hr ft, gc = 32.17 lbm ft/lbf s2.
14)

Solve Problem 5-1 of Nuclear Systems I by Todreas and Kazimi.

Report the results in British Unit (of course not the ones for the
dimensionless parameters). Do not calculate {}.
15)

Using the Hewitt-Roberts flow regime map, evaluate the most likely

flow pattern occuring in a 2.54 cm ID vertical boiler tube for mass flux of
300 kg/m2-sec, pressure of 75 bars and qualities of 10% and 50 %.

1.

2.
3.

In a 15x15 PWR assembly, there are 204 fuel rods with 0.422 in.
diameter and 21 thimble rods with 0.533 in. diameter. The system
pressure is 2250 psia. The mass flux for the flow is given as 2.45x10 6
lbm/ft2-hr. Calculate the heat transfer coefficient for this assembly.
Assembly pitch is 8.466 in.
For the assembly described above, given wall temperature is 650 oF.
Using this, recalculate the heat transfer coefficient with Seider-Tate
equation.
For the assembly given in Question 1, the velocity distribution in cells
(or subchannels) is calculated by:

Vi
Vassembly

Dei

2/3

De

assembly

Using this relation, calculate the heat transfer coefficients for a typical
and a thimble cell. Which one has the higher heat transfer coefficient
and why?

Typical cell:

Flow Area

Thimble cell:

4.

For a 17x17 PWR (At 2250 psia) rod bundle, the flow follows the below
path as presented in Figure.
1.) Lower plenum (area equal to total bundle area)
2.) The lower plate which has 4 holes to let flow in the bundle. The holes
are 2.5 in. in diameter.
3.) Open area (area equal to the total bundle area)
4.) The lower nozzle (area equal to the half of the total bundle area)
5.) Bundle (17 x 17, bundle pitch is 8.466 in., 264 fuel rods with 0.374
in. diameter and 25 thimble rods with 0.474 in. diameter). The velocity
of the flow in the bundle is 16.0 ft/s. There are 6 spacer grids in the
bundle with spacer form loss coefficient of 6 and the ratio of the
projected grid cross-section area, Ag in the rod bundle, to the
undisturbed rod bundle flow area AB of 0.45 and 2 top and bottom
spacer grids with spacer form loss coefficient of 6 and the ratio of the
projected grid cross-section area, Ag in the rod bundle, to the
undisturbed rod bundle flow area AB of 0.23.
6.) The upper nozzle (area equal to the half of the total bundle area)
7.) Open area (area equal to the total bundle area)
8.) Top plate with one hole which is 5.0 in. in diameter

9.) Upper plenum (area equal to total bundle area)

The total height given is 14 ft.

Calculate the total pressure drop between the lower plenum and
upper plenum.