Experimental and Analytical Results of Sealing Performance of HENDEL T₂

Abstract

The In-core Structure Test Section (HENDEL T₂) is a full scale simulation of the core bottom structure of High-Temperature Engineering Test Reactor (HTTR) being planned by Japan Atomic Energy Research Institute. In the T₂ section, leakage flow between the permanent reflector blocks was measured to verify sealing performance.
Experimental results show that the leakage flow rate was approximately increased with the pressure difference to power of 0.7.
The leakage flow rate was evaluated by the comparison with the numerical analysis. The numerical results were in good agreement with the experimental results. In addition, influence of density and viscosity of helium gas was studied and an empirical leakage flow equation was devised.