Comparison and analysis of the condensation benchmark results”, 3 rd European Review Meeting on Severe Accident Research (EMSAR2008

In the frame of the SARnet Network of Excellence, the need was felt for assessing the status of condensation models adopted in CFD codes relevant for nuclear reactor containment applications. The motivation for this work was provided by the increasingly widespread use of CFD in the analysis of containment behavior consequent to postulated severe accidents, in which wall condensation can promote containment atmosphere mixing. Since standard models are seldom available in many CFD codes for dealing with condensation and in consideration of the different strategies envisaged for analyzing downscaled facilities or full scale containments, this aspect was considered worth of a specific attention. In this aim, after performing a review of the models available to the Participants in the network, appropriate Benchmark Problems were proposed to assess and compare their behavior. The University of Pisa took the charge of coordinating these efforts, proposing an initial step of the Benchmark (identified as the 0th Step) aimed at comparing code responses among each other and with applicable correlations in the application to a classical problem of condensation on a flat plate; the reference geometrical and operating conditions for this step were selected as an idealization of those typical in the CONAN experimental facility