CHARACTERISTICS OF THE FLOW-CONTROLLED ACCUMULATOR

Mitsubishi is developing a new type of accumulator incorporating the t echnology of fluidics as one of the seeds for the improved safety of t he newly constructed pressurized water reactor plants. This accumulato r employs a vortex flow control device, called a vortex damper, as a f luidic device to simplify the safety systems. A fundamental experiment al study with a one-fifth scale model and confirmation tests with a on e-third scale model to develop the vortex damper have been carried out , and satisfactory results have been achieved. The results of the conf irmation tests under the prototype pressure conditions agree well with the basic tests. The flow rate ratio can be 5 to 6. The pressure loss coefficient in the large flow rate period is 8. A cavitation factor i s the main parameter of the flow rate coefficient.