Modeling and experimental studies on air buoyant jets for application to small containments

Abstract Small containments generally possess a small free volume and compact layout of inner structures. After a loss of coolant accident (LOCA) or main steam line break accident (MSLB), steam with high temperature and momentum may impinge directly on the safety-related equipment, which may harm the normal operation of these devices. Therefore, predictions of temperature and velocity of the jet are absolutely essential. Calculation model based on MATLAB and related experimental researches of hot-air to cold-air jet were carried out in this paper. Several typical experimental conditions have been simulated by the CFD code. The running time of these two codes proved the advantage of the model developed in this paper. Results of the calculations with the MATLAB model and CFD code are both coincident with the experimental data in general. Both modeling simulation and experimental results showed that temperature and velocity of the air jet decay rapidly in a limited distance and then the jet maintains a low temperature and velocity.