兆瓦级热管堆核动力系统数字样机设计

Digital Prototyping of Megawatt-class Heat-pipe Reactor Nuclear Power System

  • 摘要: 本文以典型兆瓦级热管堆核动力系统为研究对象,针对兆瓦级核动力系统集成度高、强耦合及安全边界预估困难等问题,构建基于modelica语言的反应堆系统数字样机。基于所研发数字样机,开展了核动力系统反应堆功率线性提升与功率稳定性调节的数值模拟。计算表明,依靠反应性主动控制系统,反应堆功率、燃料峰值温度及热管吸热功率等主要参数波动能始终保持在4%以内。进一步地,分析了该核动力系统在单根热管失效、反应堆丧失部分冷却事故下的安全特性。计算发现,即使不采取控制棒紧急停堆或反应性主动调节策略,燃料峰值温度、热管峰值温度、最大热管输热功率等参数能始终保持在安全限值以下,反应堆安全性能得到有效保证。

     

    Abstract: A typical megawatt-class heat-pipe reactor nuclear power system was investigated in this study. To address the challenges associated with high integration, strong multiphysics coupling, and the inherent difficulties in predicting safety margins in modern megawatt-class nuclear power systems, a comprehensive system-level digital prototype was constructed using the object-oriented modelica modeling language. To achieve high-fidelity transient simulations, a modular modeling approach was adopted to couple the core neutronics, transient thermal conduction of fuel elements, high-temperature vapor cavity heat-pipe performance, and the components of the power conversion loop. Based on the developed digital prototype, comprehensive numerical simulations were carried out to evaluate the transient behavior of the nuclear power system under conditions of a linear power ramp and active power stability regulations. The simulation results demonstrate that, by relying on the active reactivity control system, the fluctuations of critical thermal-hydraulic and nuclear parameters, including the total reactor power, peak fuel temperature, and individual heat-pipe heat absorption capacity, can be strictly constrained within a narrow margin of less than 4%, exhibiting excellent stability and load-following capabilities. Furthermore, the inherent safety characteristics and passive safety margins of the heat pipe reactor system were thoroughly analyzed under two typical design-basis accident scenarios: a single localized heat pipe structural failure and a partial loss of reactor cooling accident. The numerical calculations indicate that even under the highly conservative assumption where no emergency reactor scram by control rods or active reactivity adjustment strategies is implemented, the transient peaks of the fuel temperature, cladding temperature, and the maximum heat transfer power of the neighboring operational heat pipes spontaneously stabilize and remain well below the predefined design safety limits. This autonomous stabilization behavior is primarily driven by the strong negative temperature reactivity feedback mechanisms inherent in the reactor core design. The quantitative findings effectively demonstrate that the proposed megawatt-class heat-pipe reactor power system possesses substantial thermal inertia and robust passive safety performance, preventing catastrophic core degradation under extreme accidental transients. The digital prototype developed in this work establishes a reliable, flexible computational platform for the future optimization of control systems, safety system architecture, and digital twin deployment for advanced space and terrestrial micro-reactors.

     

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