Convective Heat Transfer

MUHAMMAD SYAHIR SARKAWI, PhD

Nuclear Engineering Program
Energy Engineering Department
N01-273 | 0133274154
[email protected]

SETN2223 1
 Physical Mechanism of Convection

• Convection is the main mode of heat removal in nuclear reactors

• Proper understanding of convection heat transfer is necessary for a

successful thermal design and operation of nuclear reactors

• Conduction and convection both require the presence of a material

medium but convection requires fluid motion.

• Convection involves fluid motion as well as heat conduction.

• Heat transfer through a solid is always be conduction.

SETN2223 2
 Physical Mechanism of Convection

• Heat transfer through a fluid is by convection in the

presence of bulk fluid motion and by conduction in
the absence of it.

• The fluid motion enhances heat transfer, since it

brings warmer and cooler chunks of fluid into
contact, initiating higher rates of conduction at a
greater number of sites in a fluid.

• The rate of heat transfer through a fluid is much

higher be convection than it is by conduction.
SETN2223 3
 Physical Mechanism of Convection

• In fact, the higher the fluid velocity, the higher the rate of heat
transfer.

Heat transfer through a fluid

sandwiched between two
parallel plates.

𝑾 Convection heat transfer coefficient, 𝒉: The rate of heat

𝒒′′ 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒗 = 𝒉(𝑻𝒔 − 𝑻∞ ) [ 𝟐]
𝒎 transfer between a solid surface and a fluid per unit surface
area per unit temperature difference.
𝑸ሶ 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒗 = 𝒉𝑨𝒔 (𝑻𝒔 − 𝑻∞ ) [𝑾]

SETN2223 4
 Heat Removal and Pumping Power

• Coolants remove heat from fuel elements in the core and blanket (if any) and from
thermal shields, pressure vessels, etc., and may transfer this heat to an
intermediate or secondary coolant or to the working fluid in a heat exchange.

• The heat transferred, 𝒒 (𝑩𝒕𝒖/𝒉𝒓)

𝒒 = 𝒉𝑨𝒔 (𝑻𝒔 − 𝑻𝒇 )

• In power reactor the coolant is force-circulated (by a liquid pump or a gas blower)
and forced-convection heat transfer coefficients is apply.

• Turbulent-flow conditions also predominate in such cases.

SETN2223 5
 Heat Removal and Pumping Power

Convection heat transfer strongly depends on:

➢ Fluid properties – dynamic viscosity, thermal conductivity, density, and specific

heat.
➢ Flow conditions – fluid velocity, laminar, turbulence.
➢ Surface geometry – geometry, surface roughness of the solid surface.

• In fact, the question of convection heat transfer comes down to determining the
heat transfer coefficient, 𝒉

• This mainly depends on the velocity and thermal boundary layers.

• Consequently, a wide range of values for 𝒉 is to expected.

SETN2223 6
 Heat Removal and Pumping Power

• Because of size limitations as well as the large thermal output of power reactors.

• The pumping work, 𝑾 (𝐟𝐭 − 𝐥𝐛𝐟 /𝐡𝐫), required by the circulating coolant to
overcome pressure losses through a complete loop.

𝑾 = ∆𝑷𝑨𝒄 𝝂
where

∆𝑷 - Pressure drop through loop, lbf /ft 2

𝑨𝒄 - Cross-sectional area of coolant passage, ft 2
𝝂 - coolant speed, ft/hr

SETN2223 7
 Heat Removal and Pumping Power

∆𝑷 in turbulent flow expressed by the Darcy formula:

𝑳 𝝆𝝂𝟐
∆𝑷 = 𝒇
𝑫𝒆 𝟐𝒈𝒄
where

∆𝑷 - Pressure drop through loop, lbf /ft 2

𝒇 - friction factor, dimensionless
𝑳 - Channel length, ft
𝟒𝑨𝒄
𝑫𝒆 - Equivalent diameter of channel = , where 𝑃 is wetted perimeter
𝑷
𝝆 - density of coolant, lbm /ft 3
𝒈𝒄 - conversion factor = 4.17 × 108 lbm ∙ ft/lbf ∙ hr 2

For highly turbulent flow in a circular channel with smooth surfaces, 𝒇 may be given by
SETN2223 8
 Heat Removal and Pumping Power

For highly turbulent flow in a circular channel with smooth surfaces, 𝒇 may be given by
𝟎. 𝟏𝟖𝟒
𝒇=
𝑹𝒆𝟎.𝟐
where
𝑹𝒆 - Reynolds number, dimensionless

𝑫𝒆 𝝂𝝆
𝑹𝒆 =
𝝁
𝝁 - absolute viscosity of coolant, lb/hr ∙ ft

SETN2223 9
 Heat Removal and Pumping Power

𝑾 = ∆𝑷𝑨𝒄 𝝂 𝑳 𝝆𝝂𝟐
∆𝑷 = 𝒇
𝑫𝒆 𝟐𝒈𝒄

𝟎. 𝟏𝟖𝟒
𝑳 𝝆𝝂𝟐 𝒇=
𝑾 = (𝒇 )𝑨𝒄 𝝂 𝑫 𝝂𝝆
( 𝒆 )𝟎.𝟐
𝑫𝒆 𝟐𝒈𝒄 𝝁

𝟎. 𝟏𝟖𝟒 𝑳 𝝆𝝂𝟐
𝑾=( )𝑨 𝝂
𝑫𝒆 𝝂𝝆 𝟎.𝟐 𝑫𝒆 𝟐(4.17 × 108 ) 𝒄
( )
𝝁

−𝟏𝟎
𝑨𝒄 𝑳 𝟐.𝟖 𝟎.𝟖 𝟎.𝟐
𝑾 = 𝟐. 𝟐 × 𝟏𝟎 𝟏.𝟐
(𝝂 )(𝝆 )(𝝁 )
𝑫𝒆

SETN2223 10
 Heat Removal and Pumping Power

• The heat removed by the coolant

𝒒 = 𝝆 𝑨𝒄 𝝂 𝒄𝒑 𝚫𝑻𝒇
where
𝒄𝒑 - coolant specific heat at constant pressure, Btu/lbm ∙ ℉
𝚫𝑻𝒇 - coolant temperature rise in length 𝐿, ℉

• The dimensionless ratio

𝑾′ 𝑾
= 𝑱 - Energy conversion factor (778.16 lbf ∙ ft/Btu)
𝒒 𝑱𝒒

𝐴𝑐 𝐿 2.8 0.8 0.2

2.2 × 10−10 (𝜈 )(𝜌 )(𝜇 )
𝑊′ 𝐷𝑒1.2 −𝟏𝟑
𝑳 𝝂𝟏.𝟖 𝝁𝟎.𝟐
= = 𝟐. 𝟖𝟑 × 𝟏𝟎 𝟏.𝟐
( )( 𝟎.𝟐 )
𝑞 (778.16 lbf ∙ ft/Btu)(𝜌 𝐴𝑐 𝜈 𝑐𝑝 𝛥𝑇𝑓 ) 𝑫𝒆 𝜟𝑻𝒇 𝝆 𝒄𝒑
SETN2223 11
 Heat Removal and Pumping Power

• A second correlation involving fuel temperatures (limited by fuel material) and

coolant temperature (affecting plant thermal efficiency) can be obtained by
writing 𝒒 in the form
𝒒 = 𝒉 𝑨 ∆𝑻𝒎
where
𝑨 - area heat is transferred between fuel and coolant in fuel channel or
circumferential area of coolant channel = 𝑃𝐿 = 4𝐴𝑐 /𝐷𝑒 , ft 2
∆𝑻𝒎 - mean temperature difference between channel wall and coolant, ℉

𝐴𝑐 𝐿 2.8 0.8 0.2

2.2 × 10−10 (𝜈 )(𝜌 )(𝜇 )
𝑊′ 𝐷𝑒1.2 −𝟏𝟒
𝟏 𝝂𝟐.𝟖 𝟎.𝟐 𝝁𝟎.𝟐 )
= = 𝟕. 𝟎𝟕 × 𝟏𝟎 ( )(𝝆
𝑞 4𝐴𝑐 𝑫𝟎.𝟐 𝒉𝜟𝑻
𝒎
(778.16 𝑙𝑏𝑓 ∙ 𝑓𝑡/𝐵𝑡𝑢)(ℎ ( )∆𝑇𝑚 ) 𝒆
𝐷𝑒

SETN2223 12
 Heat Removal and Pumping Power

Coolant Performance in Power Reactors

• It can be seen that, the heat removal and pumping power, both kinds of water are
superior to all other coolants, followed by liquid metals and the organics.

𝑊′
• Gases have high values of and differ widely among themselves.
𝑞

SETN2223 13
 Example 1

PWR has fuel rod dimensions of R = 0.15 in and H = 30 in. The reactor operates at the thermal power of 2000 MW. The rods
are cooled by pressurized water (P = 2000 psi) , which is flowing at a speed of 𝟓𝟓 × 𝟏𝟎𝟑 ft/hr. The coolant water entering at
the bottom of the core with temperature at 600°F and leaving the core with average temperature of 640 °F. Calculate:

a) the pumping work required for this coolant flow.

𝑾′
b) The relative ratio of pumping power to the heat removed by the coolant, 𝒒

𝐥𝐛
From Table, at 600°F and 2000 psi, 𝝆 = 𝟒𝟐. 𝟗 𝐟𝐭𝟑 , 𝝁 = 𝟎. 𝟐𝟏𝟐 𝐥𝐛/𝐡𝐫 ∙ 𝐟𝐭, 𝑪𝒑 = 𝟏. 𝟒𝟓 𝐁𝐭𝐮/𝐥𝐛 ∙ ℉, 𝒌 = 𝟎. 𝟐𝟗𝟔 𝐁𝐭𝐮/𝐡𝐫 ∙ 𝐟𝐭 ∙ ℉

SETN2223 14
 Heat Transfer Coefficients General

• The heat transfer coefficient, 𝒉 is defined by Newton’s law of cooling.

𝒒 𝑻𝒘 - Temperature of the wall

𝒒′′ = = 𝒉(𝑻𝒘 − 𝑻𝒇 )
𝑨 𝑻𝒇 - Temperature of the coolant fluid

• The fluid temperature is not constant over the cross section, however, and 𝑻𝒇 is
defined as that temperature which, when multiplied by the coolant mass-flow rate
𝒎ሶ and specific heat 𝒄𝒑 ,

SETN2223 15
 Heat Transfer Coefficients General

• Thus, between cross-sections 1 and 2 of Fig. the heat transfer is

ሶ 𝒑 (𝑻𝒇𝟐 − 𝑻𝒇𝟏 )
𝒒 = 𝒎𝒄

• 𝑻𝒇 is given various names, the bulk, the mixed mean, and mixing-cup
temperature.

• In highly turbulent flow, the temperature profile is fairly flat over much of the
cross section, and the bulk temperature is taken as equal to the temperature at
the center of the channel 𝑻𝒇𝒄 .

• If bulk temperature varies along the axis flow channel, as heat exchange, an
average value of 𝒉 halfway between the cross sections considered.

SETN2223 16
 Heat Transfer Coefficients General

• The value of 𝒉 is governed by many factors:

1. Operating factors:
a) The geometrical shape of the channel
b) The flow rate of the coolant
c) The heat flux
d) The system temperature

2. Physical properties of the coolant

In most reactor work, the flow of the fluid is forced and turbulent operating
conditions.

SETN2223 17
 Heat Transfer Coefficients General

• The value of 𝒉 in forced convection is governed by the thermal conductivity of the

fluid as well as by those factors representing turbulence and operating conditions.

• In the correlations for 𝒉, it is given as part of the Nusselt number, a dimensionless

group which includes the thermal conductivity of the fluid and the equivalent
diameter of the channel.

• The Nusselt number is a function of the Reynolds and Prandtl numbers, a fact that
can be proved by theoretical analysis, dimensional analysis, or by experiment.
Thus

𝑵𝒖 = 𝒇 (𝑹𝒆, 𝑷𝒓)

SETN2223 18
 Reynolds Number

• The transition from laminar to turbulent flow depends on the geometry, surface
roughness, flow velocity, surface temperature, and type of fluid.

• The flow regime depends mainly on the ratio of internal forces to viscous forces
(Reynolds number)

𝐈𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐜𝐞𝐬
𝑹𝒆 =
𝐕𝐢𝐬𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐜𝐞𝐬

SETN2223 19
 Reynolds Number
At large Reynolds Number,
➢ The internal forces, which are proportional to the fluid density and the square
of the fluid velocity,
➢ The viscous forces cannot prevent the random and rapid fluctuations of the
fluid (turbulent)

At small or moderate Reynolds numbers,

➢ The viscous forces are large enough to suppress these fluctuations and to keep
the fluid “in line” (laminar)

• Critical Reynolds number, 𝑹𝒆𝒙,𝒄 : The Reynolds number at which the flow becomes
turbulent.

• The value of the critical Reynolds number is different for different geometries and
flow conditions SETN2223 20
 Nusselt Number
• Nusselt number: Dimensionless convection heat transfer coefficient.

• Nusselt number represents the enhancement of heat transfer through a fluid layer
as a result of convection relative to conduction across the same fluid layer.
∆𝑻 𝒒ሶ 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒗 𝒉∆𝑻 𝒉𝑳
𝒒ሶ 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒗 = 𝒉∆𝑻 𝒒ሶ 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒅 = 𝒌 = = = 𝑵𝒖
𝑳 𝒒ሶ 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒅 𝒌 ∆𝑻 𝒌
𝑳

𝒉𝑳𝒄
𝑵𝒖 =
𝒌 𝑳𝒄 - characteristics length

• The larger the Nusselt number, the more effective the convection.

• A Nusselt number of Nu = 1 for a fluid layer represents heat transfer across the
layer by pure conduction. SETN2223 21
 Prandtl Number
• The relative thickness of the velocity and the thermal boundary layer is best
described by the dimensionless parameter Prandtl number

𝐌𝐨𝐥𝐞𝐜𝐮𝐥𝐚𝐫 𝐝𝐢𝐟𝐟𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐦𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐮𝐦 𝝂 𝝁𝒄𝒑

𝑷𝒓 = = =
𝐌𝐨𝐥𝐞𝐜𝐮𝐥𝐚𝐫 𝐝𝐢𝐟𝐟𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐭 𝜶 𝒌

SETN2223 22
 Prandtl Number

• The Prandtl numbers of gases are about 1, which indicates that both
momentum and heat dissipate through the fluid at about the same
rate.

• Heat diffuses very quickly in liquid metals (Pr << 1) and very slowly in
oils (Pr >> 1) relative to momentum.

• Consequently, the thermal boundary layer is much thicker for liquid

metals and much thinner for oils relative to the velocity boundary
layer.

SETN2223 23
 The Heat Transfer Coefficient-Nonmetallic
Coolants
• Boiling reactors can use many types of liquid coolants, such as
o light and heavy water,
o liquid metals, and
o organic coolants,

• It is mostly used light water because of its availability and the advanced state of
knowledge concerning it.

SETN2223 24
 The Heat Transfer Coefficient-Nonmetallic
Coolants

• If every portion of the fluid moves parallel to the walls of the channel,

• then the heat travels radially into the fluid largely by conduction.

• The flow, in this case, is said to be laminar.

• If there are significant radial components of velocity fluctuations within the fluid,

• the heat is picked up at the wall by portions of the fluid and carried directly into
the interior of the channel.

• This is the description of turbulent flow.

SETN2223 25
 The Heat Transfer Coefficient-Nonmetallic
Coolants

• In reactors, the coolant is pumped through the system (as opposed to

reactors cooled by natural convection), the coolant flows under
turbulent conditions.

• Consequences of the internal motions of the coolant undergoing

turbulent flow is that the temperature distribution tends to be more
or less uniform over much of the interior region of a coolant channel.

SETN2223 26
 The Heat Transfer Coefficient-Nonmetallic
Coolants

• Figure shows the temperature drops rapidly with distance in the

vicinity of the fuel and quickly reaches the bulk temperature of the
fluid.
• Even under turbulent
conditions, however, some heat
is transferred to the interior of a
coolant by conduction, but for
the non-metallic coolants this
contribution is negligibly small.

SETN2223 27
 The Heat Transfer Coefficient-Nonmetallic
Coolants

• It is possible to characterize the flow of a fluid in terms of a

dimensionless parameter known as the Reynolds number, which is
defined as
𝑫𝒆 𝝂𝝆
𝑹𝒆 =
𝝁
𝑫𝒆 - the equivalent diameter of the coolant channel.
𝝂 - the average velocity of the fluid.
𝝆 - the density.
𝝁 - the fluid viscosity

𝐜𝐫𝐨𝐬𝐬−𝐬𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐚 𝐨𝐟 𝐜𝐨𝐨𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐥

𝑫𝒆 = 𝟒 ×
𝐰𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐦𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐟 𝐜𝐨𝐨𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐥

SETN2223 28
 The Heat Transfer Coefficient-Nonmetallic
Coolants

• For a hollow pipe carrying a coolant, the wetted perimeter is simply

the interior perimeter of a section of the pipe perpendicular to its axis.
𝛑𝒂𝟐
𝑫𝒆 = 𝟒 × = 𝟐𝐚
𝟐𝛑𝒂

• For a bundle of rods of radius, 𝒂 in a square array of pitch, 𝒔

𝐬 𝟐 −𝛑𝒂𝟐
𝑫𝒆 = 𝟐 ×
𝛑𝒂

SETN2223 29
 The Heat Transfer Coefficient-Nonmetallic
Coolants

• It has been found experimentally that the flow of the fluids

➢ 𝑹𝒆 up to 2,000 the flow is laminar.

➢ 𝑹𝒆 between 2,000 and 10,000 the flow is partly laminar and partly
turbulent (transitional flow).

➢ 𝑹𝒆 above 10,000 the flow is in fully developed turbulent flow.

SETN2223 30
 The Heat Transfer Coefficient-Nonmetallic
Coolants

Reynolds number Implies

i. a large amount of turbulence,

ii. a high value of the heat transfer coefficient, and

iii. a high rate of heat flow into the coolant for a given difference in
temperature between the cladding and the coolant.

SETN2223 31
 Example 2

PWR has extrapolated dimensions of R= 67 in and H = 144 in. The reactor

operates at the thermal power of 1893 MW. It contains 193 fuel
assemblies, each consisting of 204 𝐔𝐎𝟐 a fueled portion 0.42 in. in
diameter that is clad with Zircaloy-4, 0.024 in thick. Each rod is 12 ft long.
The fuel rods are placed in a square array with a pitch of 0.600 in. The
rods are cooled by pressurized water (P = 2,000 psi), which is flowing at a
speed of 15.6 ft/sec. Calculate the Reynolds number for this coolant flow
assuming the water temperature is 600°F.

SETN2223 32
 Example 2: solution

𝐟𝐭 𝐬𝐞𝐜 𝐟𝐭
The flow velocity = 𝟏𝟓. 𝟔 𝐬𝐞𝐜 × 𝟑𝟔𝟎𝟎 = 𝟓𝟔𝟐𝟎𝟎 𝐡𝐫
𝐡𝐫

𝐥𝐛
From Table, at 600°F and 2000 psi, 𝝆 = 𝟒𝟐. 𝟗 , 𝝁 = 𝟎. 𝟐𝟏𝟐 𝐥𝐛/𝐡𝐫 ∙ 𝐟𝐭, 𝑪𝒑 = 𝟏. 𝟒𝟓 𝐁𝐭𝐮/𝐥𝐛 ∙ ℉, 𝒌 = 𝟎. 𝟐𝟗𝟔 𝐁𝐭𝐮/𝐡𝐫 ∙ 𝐟𝐭 ∙ ℉
𝐟𝐭 𝟑

𝐟𝐭 𝐥𝐛
𝑫𝒆 𝝂𝝆 (𝟎. 𝟎𝟒𝟐𝟕 𝐟𝐭)(𝟓𝟔𝟐𝟎𝟎 𝐡𝐫)(𝟒𝟐. 𝟗 𝐟𝐭 𝟑 )
𝑹𝒆 = = = 𝟒𝟖𝟔, 𝟎𝟎𝟎
𝝁 𝟎. 𝟐𝟏𝟐 𝐥𝐛/𝐡𝐫 ∙ 𝐟𝐭
The water is clearly flowing under turbulent conditions

SETN2223 33
 The Heat Transfer Coefficient-Nonmetallic
Coolants

• Nusselt number; 𝐍𝐮, defined as

𝒉𝑫𝒆
𝑵𝒖 =
𝒌

• Prandtl number; Pr, defined as

𝝁𝒄𝒑
𝑷𝒓 =
𝒌

𝑫𝒆 - the equivalent diameter of the coolant channel.

𝒌 - thermal conductivity.
𝒄𝒑 - the specific heat.
𝝁 - the fluid viscosity

SETN2223 34
 The Heat Transfer Coefficient-Nonmetallic
Coolants

• The convective heat transfer data can be correlated in terms of three

dimensionless numbers-Re, Nu, and Pr.

𝑵𝒖 = 𝑪 𝑹𝒎
𝒆 𝑷𝒓
𝒏 Dittus-Boelter equation

Where 𝑪, 𝒎, and 𝒏 are constants. The value of 𝒉 can be obtained

𝒌
𝒉 = 𝑪( ) 𝑹𝒎
𝒆 𝑷𝒓
𝒏
𝑫𝒆

• We need to determine the reference temperature of the fluid 𝑻𝒃 .

• These equations are not valid for liquid metals, which must be considered
separately.
SETN2223 35
 The Heat Transfer Coefficient-Nonmetallic
Coolants

• With ordinary water, heavy water, organic liquids and gases flowing
through long, straight and circular tubes, the following values have been
recommended for the constants

𝑪 = 𝟎. 𝟎𝟐𝟑, 𝒎 = 𝟎. 𝟖, 𝒏 = 𝟎. 𝟒
• In the important case of ordinary water flowing through a lattice of rods,
parallel to the axis of the rods, recommended constants are
𝑷 𝟏
𝑪= 𝟎. 𝟎𝟒𝟐 = 𝟎. 𝟎𝟐𝟒, 𝒎 = 𝟎. 𝟖, 𝒏 =
𝑫 𝟑

𝑷 and 𝑫 are lattice pitch and rod diamter

𝑷 𝑷
For triangular lattices, 𝟏. 𝟏 ≤ ≤ 𝟏. 𝟓 For square lattices, 𝟏. 𝟏 ≤ ≤ 𝟏. 𝟑
𝑫 𝑫
SETN2223 36
 The Heat Transfer Coefficient-Nonmetallic
Coolants

• Where large differences between the temperatures of the solid and

of the fluid, variations in the physical properties of coolant influence
heat transfer.

• Such variation is most significant for the viscosity

0.14
𝝁
𝑵𝒖 = 𝑪 𝑹𝒎
𝒆 𝑷𝒓𝒏
𝝁𝑾

𝑷 𝟏
𝑪 = 𝟎. 𝟎𝟒𝟐 = 𝟎. 𝟎𝟐𝟒, 𝒎 = 𝟎. 𝟖, 𝒏 =
𝑫 𝟑

𝝁 - the fluid viscosity 𝝁𝒘 - the wall viscosity

SETN2223 37
 The Heat Transfer Coefficient-Nonmetallic
Coolants

• For many gases, including helium, carbon dioxide, and air, 𝑷𝒓 is

approximately 0.70, and so equation.

𝑵𝒖 = 𝟎. 𝟕𝟎 × 𝑪 𝑹𝒎
𝒆
𝑷
𝑪 = 𝟎. 𝟎𝟒𝟐 𝑫 = 𝟎. 𝟎𝟐𝟒, 𝒎 = 𝟎. 𝟖,

SETN2223 38
 Example 3

PWR has extrapolated dimensions of R = 67 in and H = 144 in. The reactor operates
at the thermal power of 1893 MW. It contains 193 fuel assemblies, each consisting
of 204 UO2 a fueled portion 0.42 in. in diameter that is clad with Zircaloy-4, 0.024 in
thick. Each rod is 12 ft long. The fuel rods are placed in a square array with a pitch
of 0.600 in. The rods are cooled by pressurized water (P = 2, 000 psi), which is
flowing at a speed of 15.6 ft/sec. Calculate the heat transfer coefficient for the
water flowing through the lattice for this coolant flow assuming the water
temperature is 600°F.

SETN2223 39
 Example 3: Solution

= − =

𝟏. 𝟒𝟓 × 𝟎. 𝟐𝟏𝟐
= =
SETN2223 40
 Example 3: Solution

SETN2223 41
 The Heat Transfer Coefficient-Liquid Metals

• Heat transfer to liquid metal coolants is strikingly different from the transfer
of heat to ordinary fluids largely.

• Thermal conductivities of liquid metals are so much higher than those of

other types of coolants.

• At 400 ℉, the thermal conductivity of liquid sodium is 46.4 Btu/hr-ft- ℉,

whereas it is only 0.381 Btu/hr-ft ℉ for ordinary water and 0.115 Btu/hr-ft-℉
for helium at 1 atm.

• Even they are flowing under turbulent conditions, these coolants absorb heat
mostly by conduction.
SETN2223 42
 The Heat Transfer Coefficient-Liquid Metals

• The temperature distribution within a coolant channel containing a liquid

metal resembles the temperature distribution in a solid conductor whose
axis and circumference are held at different temperatures.

• Temperature varies more slowly across the channel with a liquid metal than
with a nonmetallic coolant.

• For a liquid metal flowing under turbulent conditions through a hexagonal

lattice of rods, parallel to the rods, Dwyer has given the following correlation

SETN2223 43
 The Heat Transfer Coefficient-Liquid Metals

𝒔 𝒔 𝟐
𝑵𝒖 = 𝟔. 𝟔𝟔 + 𝟑. 𝟏𝟐𝟔 + 𝟏. 𝟏𝟖𝟒 ഥ
+ 𝟎. 𝟎𝟏𝟓𝟓 𝝍𝑷𝒆 𝟎.𝟖𝟔
𝒅 𝒅
𝒔
-the ratio of lattice pitch to rod diameter
𝒅
𝑷𝒆 – Peelet number
ഥ - a function given graphically by Dwyer
𝝍

𝒔 𝟏.𝟒
𝟎. 𝟗𝟒𝟐
ഥ =𝟏−
𝝍 𝒅
𝑹𝒆 𝟏.𝟐𝟖𝟏
𝑷𝒓
𝟏𝟎𝟑

𝑫𝒆 𝒗 𝝆 𝒄𝒑
𝑷𝒆 = 𝑹𝒆 × 𝑷𝒓 =
𝒌
𝒔
Equation is valid only for lattices with 𝒅 > 𝟏. 𝟑𝟓

SETN2223 44
 The Heat Transfer Coefficient-Liquid Metals

• Equations may be used for square lattices by replacing the ratio s/d in
these expressions by 1.075 (s/d)s.

• For tightly packed square lattices, the following correlation may be

used
𝑵𝒖 = 𝟎. 𝟒𝟖 + 𝟎. 𝟎𝟏𝟑𝟑 𝑷𝒆 𝟎.𝟕𝟎

SETN2223 45
 The Heat Transfer Coefficient-Liquid Metals

SETN2223 46
 The Heat Transfer Coefficient-Liquid Metals

SETN2223 47
 Example 4

The core of an LMFBR consists of a square lattice of 13,104 fuel rods 0.158 in in diameter, 30.5 in long, on a
0.210 -in pitch. The fuel rods are 26 w/o enriched uranium clad in 0.005-in stainless steel. Liquid sodium enters
the core at approximately 300 °C and passes through the core at an average speed of 31.2 ft s-1. The core
produces 270 MW of thermal power, with a maximum-to-average power density of 1.79. Where the maximum
heat production rate 3.27x𝟏𝟎𝟖 Btu/hr 𝐟𝐭 𝟑 . Calculate:
[Note: Take the heat transfer coefficient to be 35,000 Btu/hr-𝐟𝐭 𝟐 °F, Density of sodium 55.06 Ib/ 𝐟𝐭 𝟑 ,
Cp = 0.3116 Btu/Ib ℉ , μ(572 F)= 0.835, μ(586 ℉)= 0.687 ), ρ (572 ℉)= 55.06 Ib/ 𝐟𝐭 𝟑 , ρ (586 ℉)= 53.63 Ib/ 𝐟𝐭 𝟑 ].

i. total coolant flow area;

ii. sodium flow rate in lb/hr;
iii. average sodium exit temperature;
iv. Reynolds number for the sodium entering and leaving (at the temperature in part [iii) the core;

SETN2223 48
Thank You
Stay safe!

SETN2223 49