Journal of Nuclear Science and Technology

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Oxygen Diffusion Analysis of Lead-Bismuth-Cooled

Natural-Circulation Reactor

Kei ITO & Takaaki SAKAI

To cite this article: Kei ITO & Takaaki SAKAI (2004) Oxygen Diffusion Analysis of Lead-Bismuth-
Cooled Natural-Circulation Reactor, Journal of Nuclear Science and Technology, 41:3, 252-259,
DOI: 10.1080/18811248.2004.9715482

To link to this article: https://doi.org/10.1080/18811248.2004.9715482

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 Journal of NUCLEAR SCIENCE and TECHNOLOGY, Vol. 41, No. 3, p. 252–259 (March 2004)

ORIGINAL PAPER

Oxygen Diffusion Analysis of Lead–Bismuth-Cooled Natural-Circulation Reactor

Kei ITO
and Takaaki SAKAI
Japan Nuclear Cycle Development Institute, 4002 Narita, O-arai-machi, Higashi-ibaraki-gun, Ibaraki 311-1393
(Received July 18, 2003 and accepted in revised form November 21, 2003)

Lead–Bismuth Eutectic (LBE) coolant has been selected as one of the possible options for fast breeder reactors
(FBR). To control a corrosion of structural materials in LBE is a key issue for LBE-cooled reactor feasibility, so that
oxygen concentration is necessary to be controlled in the appropriate range.
A concentration diffusion analysis code (COCOA: COncentration COntrol Analysis code) was developed to eval-
uate diffusivity and controllability of oxygen in the LBE-cooled natural-circulation reactor design. The controllability
was investigated through the sensitivity surveys on two ordinary models of oxygen control (ON–OFF and PID meth-
ods) and detection regions of oxygen concentration, which is referred in the control system.
It is concluded that the oxygen concentration should be detected at the center of the secondary vortex near the inner
shell for both control methods to decrease the peak concentration below the upper constraint. The PID control method
can decrease the peak concentration 400 s faster than the ON–OFF control method, when concentration is detected at
the center of the vortex. It is also concluded that the diffusion and the equilibrium coefficients in LBE have negligible
effects on the oxygen controllability through the sensitivity survey. It is prospected that oxygen concentration control
is possible even in the natural-circulation reactor.
KEYWORDS: fast breeder reactor, Lead–Bismuth Eutectic, natural circulation, material corrosiveness, oxy-
gen concentration, concentration control system, CFD

I. Introduction Objective of this research is verification of oxygen con-

centration controllability in the LBE-cooled natural-circula-
Fast breeder reactor (FBR) is located as one of the possi- tion reactor. Oxygen concentration detection regions and
ble energy source in the future with the object of not only method of the control system should be investigated to deter-
effective use of resources but also environmental protection. mine an appropriate control condition.
The feasibility study on FBR has been conducted at Japan For that purpose, a concentration diffusion analysis code
Nuclear Cycle Development Institute (JNC) and related or- (COCOA: COncentration COntrol Analysis code) was de-
ganizations (Noda, 2000). As the first step study, Lead–Bis- veloped in order to carry out the oxygen concentration con-
muth Eutectic (LBE)-cooled reactor was selected as one of trol analysis in the reactor vessel (RV). Two controlling
the possible options because LBE has some advantages as models (ON–OFF and PID methods) are employed in the
a coolant of liquid metal reactor; mild reaction with air COCOA code. Controlling reliability was investigated
and water and higher boiling point than sodium. A medium through the sensitivity survey on oxygen concentration de-
scale reactor, cooled by LBE natural-circulation flow was se- tection regions. The sensitivity of diffusion and equilibrium
lected as the most feasible design, from the aspects of struc- coefficients were also investigated.
tural requirements and economical demands (Mihara, 2001
and Enuma, 2002).
II. Numerical Simulation Method
LBE has a disadvantage for structural materials corrosive-
ness for the high solubility of Cr, Ni and Fe. It is well known 1. Requirements for CFD
that oxygen concentration control in LBE plays an important For the evaluation of oxygen concentration controllability
role on the material corrosion. The control system consists of in the LBE-cooled natural-circulation reactor, diffusion of
an oxygen emission, a hydrogen emission and a demistering. oxygen and hydrogen should be calculated. The COCOA
The control system is operated by a controlling method, code calculates diffusion of each chemical component in de-
which refers oxygen concentration at a detection region. pendence upon velocity and temperature fields. The velocity
Oxygen concentration controllability is greatly depending and the temperature distribution in the reactor are calculated
on diffusivity of oxygen and hydrogen because oxygen con- by the MSG code (Multi-dimensional thermal hydraulics
centration is reduced by chemical reaction with hydrogen. In analysis code for steam generator).
a natural-circulation reactor, stagnation zones are made by
very low coolant velocity and steady secondary vortexes 2. Government Equation
(Sakai, 2002). It is important to evaluate diffusivity of oxy- The COCOA code is based on the following two dimen-
gen in LBE to verify the feasibility of LBE-cooled natural- sional cylindrical diffusion equation:
circulation reactor.
2 
@C @C @C @ C 1 @2 C @2 C
þ ur þ uz ¼D þ þ 2 þ S;
@t @r @z @r 2 r @r @z


Corresponding author, Tel. +81-29-267-4141, Fax. +81-29-266- ð1Þ
3675, E-mail: k-ito@oec.jnc.go.jp

252
Oxygen Diffusion Analysis of Lead–Bismuth-Cooled Natural-Circulation Reactor 253

where [H2 O], [H2 ] and [O2 ] are concentrations of water,

hydrogen and oxygen respectively. Equilibrium coeffi-
LBE Surface cient K is based on a gas reaction between oxygen and
DHX
hydrogen.
PRACS – Detection delay time of the concentration sensor is not
Steam considered for the calculation, because the oxygen con-
Generator
centration sensor technique is not established to refer
the calculation condition. In addition, a coolant velocity
Inner Shell Core Region in the LBE-cooled natural-circulation reactor is very
low, so that it is considered that the delay time seems
Reactor Vessel
to be neglected compared to a time scale of the coolant
flow.
Fig. 1 Schematic of the LBE-cooled natural-circulation reactor
5. Oxygen Concentration Control System Models
The lower constraint of oxygen concentration is assumed
as 0.0023 ppm to maintain the oxide layer condition of struc-
LBE
Surface Concentration ture surfaces. The upper constraint is assumed as 0.244 ppm
Control System to prevent the PbO precipitation from the coolant (Buongior-
UIS Baffle DHX no, 2002). Target concentration level for PID control is as-
Plates sumed as 0.1 ppm.
SG Oxygen concentration control is conducted by three con-
trol systems. Hydrogen emission and demistering systems
Rectification reduce oxygen concentration. Oxygen emission system in-
Structure
creases oxygen concentration. Control systems are located
at upstream of DHX. The COCOA code deals with two or-
Core Region Inner Shell
dinal models of control method (ON–OFF and PID meth-
ods). Figures 3 and 4 show control methods. In ON–OFF
control, upper set level for controlling is fixed in
0.144 ppm to prevent overshoot. The lower constraint is em-
Fig. 2 Calculation mesh
ployed as lower set level for controlling, because short-term
undershoot is not important in longtime controlling of the re-
where C is the concentration of oxygen and hydrogen, D is actor. Therefore the hydrogen emission and the demistering
the diffusion coefficient and S is the source term, which rep- systems are operated when the referred concentration is
resents emission of each species and chemical reaction. above 0.144 ppm. The oxygen emission system is operated

3. Calculation Mesh
Figure 1 shows a schematic view of the LBE-cooled nat-
ural-circulation reactor, designed in the feasibility study. The Hydrogen Emission
reactor structure is simplified by the two dimensional cylin- + Demister Startup
Concentration

0.244ppm
drical model for the analysis. Figure 2 shows the calculation
of Oxygen

Set Level
mesh. There are a core, a steam generator (SG) and a heat Appropriate Range 0.144ppm
exchanger for decay heat removal (DHX). Core region and
0.0023ppm
SG are divided by inner shell. Flow area ratio of UIS baffle Oxygen Emission
plates and a rectification structure are 30%.
0.0 Time
4. Assumption
Fig. 3 Concept of the ON–OFF control method
The COCOA code solves diffusion equation depending on
some assumptions as follows:
– Effect of concentration change on flow field is neglected,
because concentration of oxygen and hydrogen is very
low (about 0.1 ppm).
– The diffusion coefficient is derived from a estimation
Concentration

0.244ppm
of Oxygen

equation. Difference
Target Level
– The chemical reaction between oxygen and hydrogen is Detected 0.1ppm
considered as a local equilibrium condition of the first or- Concentration
0.0023ppm
der overall reaction based on a following equation:
0.0
½H2 O2 Time
K¼ ; ð2Þ
½H2 2 ½O2  Fig. 4 Concept of the PID control method

VOL. 41, NO. 3, MARCH 2004

254 K. ITO and T. SAKAI

Vortex Center INPUT

(Detection region 2)
DETECTION
LBE Surface
Upstream of
Control System EMISSION
Vortex (Detection region 1) DETERMINATION
Baffle
Plates DHX

TIMESTEP PROCEEDING
OXYGEN YES
Control System
EMISSION?
SG NO
OXYGEN OXGEN
DIFFUSION EMISSION
Fig. 5 Concentration detection region
HYDROGEN YES
EMISSION?
when the referred concentration is below 0.0023 ppm. In PID NO
control, control systems are operated depending on follow- HYDROGEN HYDROGEN
ing equation: DIFFUSION EMISSION

Z 
1 dZ REACTION
E ¼ KP Z þ Zdt þ TD ;
TI dt ð3Þ
Z ¼ C R  TL ; NO SIMULATION
IS OVER?
where E is the amount of oxygen and hydrogen emission
(hydrogen is injected when E is positive, oxygen is injected YES
when E is negative), KP is the proportionality constant, TI is OUTPUT
the integration time, TD is the derivation time and Z is the
difference between the referred concentration (CR ) and the Fig. 6 Flowchart of the COCOA code
target level (TL ). KP is determined so that hydrogen emission
amount becomes same both in ON–OFF and proportional
control, when the peak concentration of final steady state ACTION’ section. Finally, ‘OUTPUT’ section makes output
in Plain condition simulation is employed in the control sys- file if necessary.
tem. TD is determined as 1/4 of TI , from the critical sensitiv- Discrete methods of diffusion equation are first order Eu-
ity method. When TI is big enough or small enough, calcu- ler for unsteady term, third order upwind for convection term
lation diverges. Therefore, TI is determined by parameter and second order center for diffusion term.
survey to be a value in appropriate range.
The oxygen concentration referred in the control system is 7. Velocity and Temperature Conditions
detected at two regions in Fig. 5. Detection region1 is select- Figure 7 shows steady state velocity and temperature in
ed at upstream of the control system because response of the RV at the rated power condition. They are calculated
control system seemed to be good by detecting at near the by the MSG code. The coolant heated in the core region
control system. This region is called ‘upstream of control flows upward, and cooled in the SG flows downward to form
system’. Detecting region 2 is selected near the top of the in- natural-circulation.
ner shell, because a vortex, formed by flow stagnation in this
region seemed to produce high oxygen concentration. This
region is called ‘center of vortex’. (°C)
600
6. Numerical Calculation Method
Figure 6 shows a flow chart of the COCOA code. First, at 500
‘INPUT’ section, calculation parameters (time step, diffu-
sion coefficient, etc.) are given. Mesh data, initial concentra- 400
tion distribution, velocity field and temperature field are giv-
300
en in this section, too. At ‘DETECTION’ section, oxygen
concentration is measured at chosen points. ‘EMISSION 200
DETERMINATION’ section determinates amount of oxy-
gen and hydrogen emission based on the referred concentra- 100
tion. If oxygen concentration is low, oxygen is injected at
‘OXYGEN EMISSION’ section. Then, convection and dif- 0
fusion of oxygen are calculated at ‘OXYGEN DIFFUSION’
1.0[m/s]
section. Likewise, hydrogen concentration is calculated at
‘HYDROGEN EMISSION’ and ‘HYDROGEN DIFFU-
SION’ sections. Reaction is calculated at each cell in ‘RE- Fig. 7 Velocity and temperature distribution

JOURNAL OF NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

Oxygen Diffusion Analysis of Lead–Bismuth-Cooled Natural-Circulation Reactor 255

O2 ppm RV change with time at initial transient. The oxygen concen-

0.24 tration control is conducted by the ON–OFF control method
with detection at region 2. The number of each figures means
0.20 elapsed time during transient. The oxygen carried into the
core region when refueling gives an initial condition (0 s).
0.15
The oxygen transported by circulating flow in the RV (0–
175 s) is absorbed in control system (175–200 s). There are
high oxygen concentration regions inside of the inner shell.
0.05
These are formed at the center of secondary vortexes.

0.00 3. Transient Behavior with the ON–OFF Control Meth-

t=300[s] t=500[s] t=1500[s]
Fig. 8 Concentration distributions of plain condition
III. Simulation Result
1. Preliminary Simulation of Plain Condition
Figure 8 shows the oxygen concentration distributions
without the concentration control. The concentration range
is depicted from on the lower constraint of 0.0023 ppm by
white to the upper constraint of 0.244 ppm by black. The
oxygen located in the core region at the initial condition is
diffused by the circulating flow in the RV at 300 s. The high
concentration regions, which exceed the upper constraint,
are formed in the SG and inside of the inner shell at 500 s.
These high concentration regions disperse at 1,500 s, except
for the region near the top of the inner shell. As just describ-
ed, without the control, the peak concentration exceeds the
upper constraint constantly.
od
Figure 10 shows the oxygen concentration distributions
when the ON–OFF control method with detection at region
1 (upstream of control system) is applied. The high concen-
tration regions inside of the inner shell exceed the upper con-
strain at 500 s, because secondary vortexes lead flow stagna-
tion. These high concentration regions do not disperse with
the extent of the simulation. Therefore, the peak concentra-
tion also exceeds the upper constrain at 1,500 s and at
2,500 s.
Figure 11 shows the oxygen concentration distributions
when the ON–OFF control method with detection at region
O2 ppm
0.24
0.20
0.15

2. Transient Behavior of Oxygen Concentration at Initial

0.05
Transient
Figure 9 shows oxygen concentration distributions in the
0.00

O2 ppm t=500[s] t=1500[s] t=2500[s]

0.24
Fig. 10 Concentration distributions (ON–OFF, detected at
Region 1)
0.20

0.15
O2 ppm
0.05 0.24

0.00
0s 25s 50s 75s 100s 125s 0.20

0.15

0.05

0.00

t=500[s] t=1500[s] t=2500[s]

150s 175s 200s 225s 250s 275s
Fig. 11 Concentration distributions (ON–OFF, detected at
Fig. 9 Concentration at initial transient Region 2)

VOL. 41, NO. 3, MARCH 2004

256 K. ITO and T. SAKAI

2 (center of vortex) is applied. The oxygen concentration
near the top of the inner shell exceeds the upper constraint
at 500 s, although the high concentration region disappears
by consumption and absorption of oxygen at 1,500 s. The
oxygen concentration becomes relatively uniform in com-
parison with that of region1 detection. The oxygen concen-
tration is kept within the appropriate range at 2,500 s.
4. Transient Behavior with the PID Control Meshod
Figure 12 shows the oxygen concentration distributions
when the PID control method with detection at region 1 is
applied. The high concentration regions inside of the inner
shell exceed the upper constrain at 200 s. These high concen-
tration regions disperse at 500 s, except for the region near
the top of the inner shell. The oxygen concentration becomes
uniform except for this region at 1,000 s. The concentration
of this region is kept above the upper constraint.
Figure 13 shows the oxygen concentration distributions
when the PID control method with detection at region 2 is
applied. The high concentration regions inside of the inner
shell exceed the upper constrain at 200 s. The peak concen-
tration becomes below the upper constraint at 500 s. On the
other hand, at the downstream of the control system, concen-
tration is below the lower constraint at 200 s and 500 s. It in-
creases above the lower constraint by 1,000 s. The concen-
tration is within the appropriate range at 1,000 s.
5. Summary of Detection Locations and Control Method
Figure 14 shows the change of the instantaneous peak and
the least concentrations in the RV when the ON–OFF control
method is applied. The oxygen concentration is detected at
region 1 and region 2. When detection at region1 is applied,
the peak concentration never decreases below the upper con-
straint. On the other hand, when region 2 detection method is
applied, the peak concentration decreases below the upper
constraint about 800 s. This difference is caused by the
amount of the hydrogen injection at the initial transient
(showed in Fig. 15). When region 1 detection method is ap-
plied, injection of hydrogen stops before the peak concentra-
tion decrease below the upper constraint, because the con-
centration of region 1 is much lower than the peak concen-
tration. On the other hand, when detection at region 2 is ap-
plied, enough hydrogen to decrease the peak concentration
below upper constraint is injected at initial transient. In this
case, the least concentration is below the lower constraint till
1,300 s, because the oxygen concentration at the downstream
of the control system becomes nearly 0 ppm by the chemical
reaction between oxygen and hydrogen. This situation is not
important because the oxygen concentration is below the

O2 ppm
0.24 101
Detected at Region1
Detected at Region2
Oxygen Concentration (ppm)

0.20 0 Peak Concentration

10
Upper Constraint
0.15 -1
10
Set Level

0.05 10-2

0.00 10-3 Lower Constraint

Least Concentration

t=200[s] t=500[s] t=1000[s] 10-4

0 500 1000 1500 2000 2500 3000
Time (s)
Fig. 12 Concentration distributions (PID, detected at Region 1)
Fig. 14 Change of peak and least concentrations in (ON–OFF,
comparison of detection regions)

O2 ppm
0.24
Amount of Hydrogen Emission (g/s)

0.40
Detected at Region1
0.20 Detected at Region2
0.30

0.15 0.20

0.10
0.05
0.0

0.00
-0.10
0 1000 2000 3000
Time (s)
t=200[s] t=500[s] t=1000[s]
Fig. 15 Instantaneous amount of hydrogen emission (ON–OFF,
Fig. 13 Concentration distributions (PID, detected at Region 2) comparison of detection regions)

JOURNAL OF NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

Oxygen Diffusion Analysis of Lead–Bismuth-Cooled Natural-Circulation Reactor 257

Amount of Hydrogen Emission (g/s)

4.0
101 ON-OFF Control
ON-OFF Control PID Control
PID Controd 3.0
Oxygen Concentration (ppm)
Peak Concentration
100
Upper Constraint 2.0
-1
10 1.0
Target Level
(PID)
0.0
10-2
-1.0
0 1000 2000 3000
10-3 Lower Constraint Time (s)
Least Concentration
-4
10 Fig. 17 Instantaneous amount of hydrogen emission (comparison
0 500 1000 1500 2000 2500 3000
of control methods)
Time (s)

Fig. 16 Change of peak and least concentrations (comparison of

control methods)
lower constraint only in a small region at the downstream of
the control system. In addition, corrosion occurs only when
the oxygen concentration near material surface maintains be-
low the lower constrain over long term. The least concentra-
tion becomes increasing after hydrogen injected enough. In
this short time period, corrosion scarcely occurs. Both the
peak concentration and the least concentrations are kept
within the appropriate range after 1,800 s. When the PID
control method is applied, the controllability with detection
at region 2 is better than that with detection at region1, too,
as shown in Sec. III-4.
Figure 16 shows the change of the instantaneous peak and
the least concentrations in the RV when detection at region 2
is applied. The oxygen concentration control is conducted by
the ON–OFF control and the PID control methods. The peak
concentration decreases below the upper constraint about
400 s when the PID control is applied. The PID control
method can decrease the peak concentration below the upper
constraint twice as fast as the ON–OFF control method. It
has two reasons. One is that at the initial transient, the large
difference between the target level and the detected concen-
tration leads the large amount of the hydrogen emission un-
der the PID control method (showed in Fig. 17). The other is
that the PID control method can operate much earlier than
the ON–OFF control method because it starts to operate
when the increase of concentration in the center of vortex
is detected. The peak concentration converges with the target
level under the PID control method. On the other hand, the
peak concentration decreases below the upper constraint
and then increases under the ON–OFF control method, be-
cause oxygen concentrates to the center of the steady secon-
dary vortex near the inner shell when the concentration con-
trol is not conducted. Therefore, the peak concentration un-
der ON–OFF control method oscillates over a long period.
The least concentration becomes much lower than the lower
constraint after 2,700 s because of the hydrogen emission.
Written in above paragraph, this period is negligible in the
long term concentration controlling.
These results are integrated in Table 1. Both the ON–OFF
and the PID control methods cannot decrease the peak con-
centration below the upper constraint, when the referred con-
centration is detected at region 1. The PID control method is
better than the ON–OFF control method in terms of the re-
sponsivity and the convergence. It is concluded that the
PID control method with detection at region 2 is the best
method to control the oxygen concentration in this simula-
tion.
IV. Discussion
1. Sensitivity of the Diffusion Coefficients
The diffusion coefficients of oxygen and hydrogen in LBE
are estimated by following equation investigated by Wilke–
Chang (Wilke, 1955):
MLBE 1=2 TLBE
D ¼ 7:4  108 ; ð4Þ

LBE V 0:6
where MLBE is the molecular weight, T is the temperature,

LBE is the viscosity and V is the molecular volume of oxy-
gen and hydrogen at standard state boiling point.
Due to the lack of the experimentally acquired values,

Table 1 Summary of detection locations

Method ON–OFF PID

Detection Region 1 2 1 2
Peak concentration — 800 s — 400 s
Needed time to control
Least concentration 0s 1,800 s 0s 1,550 s
Convergence of peak concentration    
: Achieved : Not Achieved

VOL. 41, NO. 3, MARCH 2004

258 K. ITO and T. SAKAI

101 101
Reference Coefficient Reference Coefficient
Zero Coefficient 1/1000 Reference Coefficient

Oxygen Concentration (ppm)

Oxygen Concentration (ppm)
0 1000 times Reference Coefficient
100 100 times Reference Coefficient 10
Upper Constraint Upper Constraint

10-1 10-1
Peak Concentration
Peak Concentration
10-2 10-2

10-3 Lower Constraint 10-3 Lower Constraint

Least Concentration Least Concentration

10-4 10-4
0 500 1000 1500 2000 2500 3000 0 500 1000 1500 2000 2500 3000
Time (s) Time (s)

Fig. 18 Change of peak and least concentrations (ON–OFF, sen- Fig. 19 Change of peak and least concentrations (ON–OFF, sen-
sitivity of diffusion coefficients) sitivity of equilibrium coefficients)

sensitivity analysis of the diffusion coefficients is necessary, V. Conclusions

although the reference values were applied as the best esti-
mations in above simulations. Figure 18 shows results sur-
veyed with three different diffusion coefficients under the
ON–OFF control method. Namely, reference estimated by
Eq. (4), zero diffusion coefficients and the coefficients of
100 times larger than references. Calculations were conduct-
ed under the ON–OFF control method with region 2 detec-
tion.
The peak concentration transient behavior of reference
and zero coefficients are nearly the same. Here, it can be
concluded that convection term is dominant for the concen-
tration transport in this reactor condition. In the case of 100
times coefficients, the peak and the least concentrations are
controlled within the appropriate range faster than reference
and zero coefficients, because enhanced diffusivity helps
oxygen and hydrogen spread and be consumed. However,
the difference of these three cases is not so large that diffu-
sion coefficient is made substantial change.
It is concluded that diffusion coefficient does not have
much effect on the result in this simulation.
2. Sensitivity of the Equilibrium Coefficient
The equilibrium coefficient of the chemical reaction be-
tween oxygen and hydrogen in LBE is estimated as shown
in Eq. (2). Therefore, sensitivity of the equilibrium coeffi-
cient on the concentration controllability is necessary.
Figure 19 shows results surveyed with three different equi-
librium coefficients under the ON–OFF control method. The
coefficient is based on gas reaction. 1/1,000 and 1,000 times
reference coefficient are surveyed. When 1,000 times refer-
ence coefficient is applied, injected hydrogen reacts only
near the control system. In the case of 1/1,000 reference co-
efficient, much more hydrogen is carried to the high concen-
tration regions near the inner shell, and reacts with oxygen
there. In this case, the peak concentration decreases below
the upper constraint faster than other two cases. However,
the difference in the change of instantaneous concentration
in three cases is not significant.
It is concluded that sensitivity of the equilibrium coeffi-
cient is negligible in this simulation.
The concentration diffusion analysis in the Lead–Bismuth
Eutectic (LBE) cooled natural-circulation reactor was con-
ducted for the purpose of verification of oxygen concentra-
tion controllability.
The peak concentration never decreases below the upper
constraint under both the ON–OFF and the PID control
methods, when the referred concentration is detected at the
upstream of the control system. The PID control method
can decrease the peak concentration 400 s faster than the
ON–OFF control method, when the referred concentration
is detected at the center of the vortex. It is concluded that
the PID control method with detection at the center of vortex
is the best method to control the oxygen concentration in this
simulation. In addition, it is concluded that the diffusion and
the equilibrium coefficients in LBE have negligible effects
on the oxygen controllability, through the sensitivity survey.
It is prospected that oxygen concentration control is pos-
sible even in the natural-circulation reactor.
Acknowledgment
Appreciation is gratefully expressed to Mr. T. Iwasaki of
NESI Inc. for the natural-circulation analysis by the MSG
code.
Nomenclature
CFD: Computational Fluid Dynamics
COCOA: COncentration COntrol Analysis code
DHX: Heat eXchanger for Decay heat removal
FBR: Fast Breeder Reactor
H2 :Molecular formula of hydrogen
H2 O: Molecular formula of water
JNC: Japan Nuclear Cycle development institute
LBE: Lead–Bismuth-Eutectic
ON–OFF: Control method with ON and OFF switching
O2 :Molecular formula of oxygen
PbO: Molecular formula of lead oxide
PID: Control method with Proportional, Integral and Deriva-
tive operation
RV: Reactor Vessel

JOURNAL OF NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

Oxygen Diffusion Analysis of Lead–Bismuth-Cooled Natural-Circulation Reactor 259

MSG: Multi-dimensional thermal hydraulics analysis code for z: Axial distance

Steam Generator) Z: Difference between referred concentration and target
SG: Steam Generator level
UIS: Upper Inner Structure
LBE : Viscosity of lead-bismuth-eutectic

C: concentration of oxygen and hydrogen

CR : Referred concentration References
D: Diffusion coefficient
1) Y. Enuma, T. Mizuno, T. Mihara, M. Konomura, M. Mito, M.
E: Amount of oxygen and hydrogen emission
Tanji, ‘‘HLMC Fast Reactor with Complete Natural Circula-
½H2 : Concentration of hydrogen
tion,’’ Proc. 10th Int. Conf. on Nuclear Engineering, Arlington,
½H2 O: Concentration of water
VA USA, ICONE10-22223565, (2002).
K: Equilibrium coefficient
KP : Proportionally constant 2) J. Buongiorno, N. Todreas, M. Kazimi, ‘‘An oxygen control
MLBE : Molecular weight of lead-bismuth-eutectic strategy for corrosion minimization in direct-coolant lead–
½O2 : Concentration of oxygen bismuth/water systems,’’ Proc. Int. Congress on Advanced
r: Radial distance Nuclear Power Plants, Hollywood, Florida, (2002).
S: Source term of oxygen and hydrogen 3) T. Mihara, Y. Tanaka, Y. Enuma, M. Ichimiya, M. Nomura,
t: Time ‘‘Feasibility studies on commercialized fast breeder reactor
TD : Derivation time system (3),’’ SmiRT 16, Washington DC, No. 1199, (2001).
TI : Integration time 4) H. Noda, ‘‘Current status of fast reactor system in Japan,’’ Proc.
TL : Target level 8th Int. Conf. on Nuclear Engineering, Baltimore, MD USA,
TLBE : Temperature of lead-bismuth-eutectic ICONE-8817, (2000).
u: Velocity 5) T. Sakai, Y. Enuma, T. Iwasaki, ‘‘System analysis for decay
ur : Radial velocity heat removal in lead–bismuth cooled natural circulation reac-
uz : Axial velocity tors,’’ Proc. Int. Congress on Advanced Nuclear Power Plants,
V: Molecular volume of oxygen and hydrogen at standard Florida, USA, No. 1061, (2002).
state boiling point 6) C. R. Wilke, P. Chang, AIChE J., 1[264], (1955).

VOL. 41, NO. 3, MARCH 2004