Investigations on the Movement of Fuel Elements in the Core of a Pebble Bed Reactor

Abstract

For several years gas-cooled high temperature reactors have been developed in Germany, the main feature of which are their pebble-type fuel elements. The pebble bed is in the state of a continuous circulation process which is the reason for a series of nuclear and technical advantages. To make use of these advantages, comprehensive experimental studies on the flow behavior of a pebble bed were carried out. First, experimental equipment and the most successful method of measurement are described. Then typical results of parameter studies are reported as well as a theoretical model to calculate the pebble bed flow behavior. At last typical functions describing the flow behavior in the core of the THTR 300 MWe Prototype Reactor are reported.