OVERVIEW OF THERMAL TRANSIENT INDUCED BUOYANCY PHENOMENA IN PIPE AND HEAT EXCHANGER FLOWS

Studies related to delineating the influence of thermal-buoyancy forces on the thermal-hydraulics of Liquid Metal Fast Breeder Reactor piping systems and heat exchangers under low-flow thermal transient conditions have generated unique information which will aid design of these components. Various buoyancy force induced phenomena such as thermal stratification, flow recirculation, stagnation, and channeling are described and the importance to component performance are discussed.