Geometry aspect review of the natural circulation system as innovation in passive cooling of nuclear reactor

Abstract

Abstract The passive nuclear reactor cooling system has become a fascinating topic, especially since the nuclear incident in Fukushima Daiichi, Japan. This study proposed to review a natural circulation-based passive cooling system in the geometry aspects of the loop. The numerical review was carried out using COMSOL Multiphysics software to study the geometry effect on the loop’s fluid characteristics. Moreover, related research data to the study of the effect of fluid flow rate on one of the advanced nuclear reactors, namely the Molten Salt Reactor and the effect of loop geometry experimentally, are presented in this study for enrichment purposes. This study clearly showed that geometry aspects need to be considered in designing a natural circulation-based passive cooling system of a nuclear reactor.