Numerical simulations of square arrayed rod bundles

► CFD simulations with square arrayed rod bundles. ► Mesh dependency and turbulence model study by comparison with experiments. ► Gibson and Launder Reynolds stress model shows good agreement with experiments. ► Effect of pitch to diameter ratio and Reynolds number is correctly captured. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations were performed with square arrayed rod bundles featuring pitch to diameter (P/D) ratio of 1.194 and 1.326 in order to find an optimal mesh and turbulence model for simulations with more complex geometries in the future. With the tighter lattice a mesh sensitivity and turbulence model study were accomplished and the post processed turbulence quantities, velocity field and wall shear stress were compared with experimental data (Hooper, 1980 Developed single phase turbulent flow through a square-pitch rod cluster. Nuclear Engineering and Design 60, 365–379.). The comparisons show that Reynolds-Averaged Navier–Stokes method with the Reynolds stress model of Gibson and Launder in conjunction with an appropriate mesh can provide reasonable agreement with the experiment for this lattice. For pure bundle simulations the body fitted structured meshes are suggested, since slightly better agreement can be captured considering all quantities with the same number of cells. Based on the drawn conclusions the procession was repeated for P/D=1.326, where, due to lack of experiment, just the correct tendencies of the turbulence quantities and velocity field were established. The results show Reynolds number independency correctly and the increase of P/D issues in more similar flow to axisymmetric pipe flow.