Title:

Experimental Investigation of Thermal Stratification in BWR Suppression Pools during Reactor Core Isolation Cooling System Operation

Speaker:

Dr. Karen Vierow Kirkland

Affiliation:

Texas A&M University

When:

Thursday, October 30, 2025 at 11:00:00 AM   Add to Calendar

Where:

Boggs Building, Room 3-47

Host:

Shaheen Dewji
shaheen.dewji@gatech.edu

Abstract

The Reactor Core Isolation Cooling system provides makeup water to the reactor pressure vessel during isolation events by passing steam from the vessel through a turbine which drives a pump to return water to the vessel. Exemplary performance of the RCIC system during the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear accident of 2011 has promoted interest in its potential performance. To investigate the development of thermal stratification within suppression pools due to RCIC system exhaust, a facility was constructed to produce the highest-resolution 3D temperature measurements available in a large water pool during pool mixing by steam injection. Thermal stratification was most strongly influenced by suppression chamber pressure. Increased steam flowrate promoted mixing, which delayed the onset of thermal stratification. Containment response is discussed with respect to thermal stratification, which delays the time of warm water ingestion and cavitation of the RCIC pump, and pool mixing, which reduces the containment pressurization rate.

Biography

Dr. Kirkland’s research focuses on reactor safety and fundamental thermal hydraulics. Dr. Kirkland founded the Nuclear Heat Transfer Systems Laboratory with unique experimental and analytical capabilities for conducting pioneering two-phase flow and heat transfer research. This laboratory provides data for industry, naval reactors, and regulatory organizations to characterize reactor systems and component performance and to develop theoretical models for reactor safety analysis. Under her leadership, the NHTS laboratory has produced 47 graduate dissertations and theses and over 100 full length refereed publications. In addition to teaching several undergraduate and graduate level nuclear engineering courses, Dr. Kirkland applied her expertise to develop a new Severe Accident Analysis course. Dr. Kirkland served as Associate Department Head from 2015 to 2025. She is a Fellow of the American Nuclear Society. Dr. Kirkland received her B.S. in Nuclear Engineering from Purdue University, M.S in Nuclear Engineering from the University of California at Berkeley, and Ph.D. in Quantum Engineering and System Sciences from the University of Tokyo. Dr. Kirkland joined the Department of Nuclear Engineering at Texas A&M University in 2006.

Notes

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