Multiphysics modeling of porous CRUD deposits in nuclear reactors

Abstract The formation of porous CRUD deposits on nuclear reactor fuel rods, a longstanding problem in the operation of pressurized water reactors (PWRs), is a significant challenge to science-based multiscale modeling and simulation. While existing, published studies have focused on individual or loosely coupled processes, such as heat transfer, fluid flow, and compound dissolution/precipitation, none have addressed their coupled effects sufficiently to enable a comprehensive, scientific understanding of CRUD. Here we present the formulation and results of a model, MAMBA-BDM, which begins to incorporate mechanistic details in describing CRUD in PWRs. CRUD is treated as a chemical deposition process in an environment of variable concentration, an arbitrary level of heating, and a complex fractal-based flow geometry. We present results on spatial distributions of temperature, pressure, velocity, and concentration that give insight into the interplay between these physical properties and geometrical parameters. We show the role of heat convection which has not been discussed previously. Furthermore, we suggest that the assumption of liquid saturation in the CRUD deserves scrutiny, as a result of our attempt to determine an effective CRUD thermal conductivity.