RERTR Publications:
Analysis Methods for Thermal Research and Test Reactors

ANL/RERTR/TM-28

Evaluation and Selection of Hot Channel (Peaking) Factors
for Research Reactor Applications*

W. L. Woodruff

RERTR Program
Argonne National Laboratory
Argonne, IL 60439-4841

February 1997

*Work supported by the US Department of Energy
Office of Nonproliferation and National Security
under Contract No. W-31-109-38-ENG.

ABSTRACT

A proposed method for selecting and applying hot channel factors is presented along with some justification for these selections. The method is illustrated by example, and the sensitivity to some of the choices is examined. The uncertainty in the heat transfer coefficient is a major contributor to the reduction in the thermal-hydraulic safety margins. The uncertainty introduced by the heterogeneity in the fuel is another important contributor and an area where more information may be useful in reducing this uncertainty.

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