The purpose of this study is to derive a CCFL (counter-current flow limitation) correlation and its uncertainty for steam generator (SG) U-tubes in a pressurized water reactor. Pressure and temperature are very high in actual U-tubes. Hence, in this paper, we evaluated effects of pressure and temperature on CCFL characteristics using numerical simulations. Results computed with the k-ω SST turbulence model gave a trend opposite to the ROSA-IV/LSTF data in the pressure range of 1.0-7.0 MPa, and the computed falling water flow rates decreased as pressure increased. Because computations with the k-ω SST were unstable at lower pressures than 1.0 MPa, the laminar flow model was used even though it significantly overestimated falling water flow rates. The results showed that: (1) the flooding under steam-water conditions was mitigated more than that under air-water conditions; (2) the falling water flow rate had a maximum value at about 1.0 MPa; and (3) the laminar flow model resulted in an opposite trend to the ROSA-IV/LSTF data in the pressure range of 1.0-7.0 MPa, as the k-ω SST turbulence model did. Thus, we concluded that accurate measurements should be made in a wide range of pressures using a single vertical pipe in order to confirm effects of fluid properties on CCFL.
