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FlowChannel1Phase

This component is a single-phase flow channel, which implements the single-phase flow model.

Usage

The parameters "position", "orientation", "length", "n_elems", and "axial_region_names" are discussed in Axial Discretization.

commentnote

"orientation" can only be used to specify a single direction and thus cannot be used to specify bends in a flow channel.

Each end of a flow channel must be connected to either a boundary or a junction (see Blocks and Boundaries for the boundary naming conventions).

The parameter "A" specifies the cross-sectional area of the flow channel.

The parameter "fp" specifies the name of a fluid properties object, and the parameter "closures" specifies the name of a closures object.

Initial conditions are specified for pressure, temperature, and velocity with the following parameters:

If passive transport variables should be modeled, then "passives_names" provides the names of these variables , and "initial_passives" provides the initial values. Note that the corresponding solution variables are , which appends _times_area to each of the provided names.

This component offers options to output quantities via vector post-processors:

Input Parameters

  • AArea of the flow channel, can be a constant or a function

    C++ Type:FunctionName

    Unit:(no unit assumed)

    Controllable:No

    Description:Area of the flow channel, can be a constant or a function

  • fpFluid properties user object

    C++ Type:UserObjectName

    Controllable:No

    Description:Fluid properties user object

  • lengthLength of each axial section [m]

    C++ Type:std::vector<double>

    Unit:(no unit assumed)

    Controllable:No

    Description:Length of each axial section [m]

  • n_elemsNumber of elements in each axial section

    C++ Type:std::vector<unsigned int>

    Controllable:No

    Description:Number of elements in each axial section

  • orientationDirection of flow channel from start position to end position (no need to normalize). For curved flow channels, it is the (tangent) direction at the start position.

    C++ Type:libMesh::VectorValue<double>

    Unit:(no unit assumed)

    Controllable:No

    Description:Direction of flow channel from start position to end position (no need to normalize). For curved flow channels, it is the (tangent) direction at the start position.

  • positionStart position of axis in 3-D space [m]

    C++ Type:libMesh::Point

    Controllable:No

    Description:Start position of axis in 3-D space [m]

Required Parameters

  • D_hHydraulic diameter [m]

    C++ Type:FunctionName

    Unit:(no unit assumed)

    Controllable:No

    Description:Hydraulic diameter [m]

  • PoD1Pitch-to-diameter ratio for parallel bundle heat transfer [-]

    Default:1

    C++ Type:double

    Unit:(no unit assumed)

    Controllable:No

    Description:Pitch-to-diameter ratio for parallel bundle heat transfer [-]

  • T_ref273.15Reference temperature [K]

    Default:273.15

    C++ Type:double

    Unit:(no unit assumed)

    Controllable:No

    Description:Reference temperature [K]

  • T_rel_step_tol1e-05Temperature relative step tolerance

    Default:1e-05

    C++ Type:double

    Unit:(no unit assumed)

    Controllable:No

    Description:Temperature relative step tolerance

  • axial_region_namesNames to assign to axial regions

    C++ Type:std::vector<std::string>

    Controllable:No

    Description:Names to assign to axial regions

  • closuresClosures object(s). This is optional since closure relations can be supplied directly by Materials as well.

    C++ Type:std::vector<std::string>

    Controllable:No

    Description:Closures object(s). This is optional since closure relations can be supplied directly by Materials as well.

  • create_flux_vppFalseIf true, create a VectorPostprocessor with the the mass, momentum, and energy side fluxes

    Default:False

    C++ Type:bool

    Controllable:No

    Description:If true, create a VectorPostprocessor with the the mass, momentum, and energy side fluxes

  • enable_heat_conductionFalseEnable heat conduction?

    Default:False

    C++ Type:bool

    Controllable:No

    Description:Enable heat conduction?

  • energy_res_tol1e-05Energy equation normalized residual tolerance

    Default:1e-05

    C++ Type:double

    Unit:(no unit assumed)

    Controllable:No

    Description:Energy equation normalized residual tolerance

  • fWall friction factor [-]

    C++ Type:FunctionName

    Unit:(no unit assumed)

    Controllable:No

    Description:Wall friction factor [-]

  • gravity_vector0 0 -9.81Gravitational acceleration vector [m/s^2]

    Default:0 0 -9.81

    C++ Type:libMesh::VectorValue<double>

    Unit:(no unit assumed)

    Controllable:No

    Description:Gravitational acceleration vector [m/s^2]

  • heat_transfer_geomPIPEConvective heat transfer geometry

    Default:PIPE

    C++ Type:MooseEnum

    Options:HEX_ROD_BUNDLE, PIPE, ROD_BUNDLE

    Controllable:No

    Description:Convective heat transfer geometry

  • initial_passivesInitial passive transport variable values in the flow channel, if any (units are [amount/m^3], where 'amount' may be mass (kg) or a number (molecules, moles, etc.))

    C++ Type:std::vector<FunctionName>

    Unit:(no unit assumed)

    Controllable:No

    Description:Initial passive transport variable values in the flow channel, if any (units are [amount/m^3], where 'amount' may be mass (kg) or a number (molecules, moles, etc.))

  • mass_res_tol1e-05Mass equation normalized residual tolerance

    Default:1e-05

    C++ Type:double

    Unit:(no unit assumed)

    Controllable:No

    Description:Mass equation normalized residual tolerance

  • momentum_res_tol1e-05Momentum equation normalized residual tolerance

    Default:1e-05

    C++ Type:double

    Unit:(no unit assumed)

    Controllable:No

    Description:Momentum equation normalized residual tolerance

  • name_multiple_ht_by_indexTrueIf true, when there are multiple heat transfer components connected to this flow channel, use their index for naming related quantities; otherwise, use the name of the heat transfer component.

    Default:True

    C++ Type:bool

    Controllable:No

    Description:If true, when there are multiple heat transfer components connected to this flow channel, use their index for naming related quantities; otherwise, use the name of the heat transfer component.

  • p_ref101325Reference pressure [Pa]

    Default:101325

    C++ Type:double

    Unit:(no unit assumed)

    Controllable:No

    Description:Reference pressure [Pa]

  • p_rel_step_tol1e-05Pressure relative step tolerance

    Default:1e-05

    C++ Type:double

    Unit:(no unit assumed)

    Controllable:No

    Description:Pressure relative step tolerance

  • passives_namesNames for each passive transport variable [amount/m^3]. Note that the conserved (solution) variables will be an amount per unit volume multiplied by the channel cross-sectional area, yielding an amount per unit length; these solution variable names will append '_times_area' to the names given in this parameter.

    C++ Type:std::vector<VariableName>

    Unit:(no unit assumed)

    Controllable:No

    Description:Names for each passive transport variable [amount/m^3]. Note that the conserved (solution) variables will be an amount per unit volume multiplied by the channel cross-sectional area, yielding an amount per unit length; these solution variable names will append '_times_area' to the names given in this parameter.

  • pipe_locationINTERIORPipe location within the bundle

    Default:INTERIOR

    C++ Type:MooseEnum

    Options:CORNER, EDGE, INTERIOR

    Controllable:No

    Description:Pipe location within the bundle

  • pipe_pars_transferredFalseSet to true if Dh, P_hf and A are going to be transferred in from an external source

    Default:False

    C++ Type:bool

    Controllable:No

    Description:Set to true if Dh, P_hf and A are going to be transferred in from an external source

  • rotation0Angle of rotation about the x-axis [degrees]

    Default:0

    C++ Type:double

    Unit:(no unit assumed)

    Controllable:No

    Description:Angle of rotation about the x-axis [degrees]

  • roughness0Roughness [m]

    Default:0

    C++ Type:double

    Unit:(no unit assumed)

    Controllable:No

    Description:Roughness [m]

  • scaling_factor_passivesScaling factor for each passive transport variable

    C++ Type:std::vector<double>

    Unit:(no unit assumed)

    Controllable:No

    Description:Scaling factor for each passive transport variable

  • vel_ref1Reference velocity [m/s]

    Default:1

    C++ Type:double

    Unit:(no unit assumed)

    Controllable:No

    Description:Reference velocity [m/s]

  • vel_rel_step_tol1e-05Velocity relative step tolerance

    Default:1e-05

    C++ Type:double

    Unit:(no unit assumed)

    Controllable:No

    Description:Velocity relative step tolerance

  • vpp_varsVariables to add in an ElementValueSampler

    C++ Type:std::vector<VariableName>

    Unit:(no unit assumed)

    Controllable:No

    Description:Variables to add in an ElementValueSampler

  • wave_speed_formulationeinfeldtMethod for computing wave speeds

    Default:einfeldt

    C++ Type:MooseEnum

    Options:einfeldt, davis

    Controllable:No

    Description:Method for computing wave speeds

Optional Parameters

  • control_tagsAdds user-defined labels for accessing object parameters via control logic.

    C++ Type:std::vector<std::string>

    Controllable:No

    Description:Adds user-defined labels for accessing object parameters via control logic.

  • enableTrueSet the enabled status of the MooseObject.

    Default:True

    C++ Type:bool

    Controllable:No

    Description:Set the enabled status of the MooseObject.

Advanced Parameters

  • initial_TInitial temperature in the flow channel [K]

    C++ Type:FunctionName

    Unit:(no unit assumed)

    Controllable:Yes

    Description:Initial temperature in the flow channel [K]

  • initial_pInitial pressure in the flow channel [Pa]

    C++ Type:FunctionName

    Unit:(no unit assumed)

    Controllable:Yes

    Description:Initial pressure in the flow channel [Pa]

  • initial_velInitial velocity in the flow channel [m/s]

    C++ Type:FunctionName

    Unit:(no unit assumed)

    Controllable:Yes

    Description:Initial velocity in the flow channel [m/s]

Variable Initialization Parameters

  • rdg_slope_reconstructionNONESlope reconstruction type for rDG spatial discretization

    Default:NONE

    C++ Type:MooseEnum

    Options:FULL, MC, MINMOD, NONE, SUPERBEE

    Controllable:No

    Description:Slope reconstruction type for rDG spatial discretization

  • scaling_factor_1phase1 1 1 Scaling factors for each single phase variable (rhoA, rhouA, rhoEA)

    Default:1 1 1

    C++ Type:std::vector<double>

    Unit:(no unit assumed)

    Controllable:No

    Description:Scaling factors for each single phase variable (rhoA, rhouA, rhoEA)

Numerical Scheme Parameters

Mesh

Axial Discretization

This component generates a mesh along a line segment in 3D space. The line segment is defined with a "start" point , corresponding to either end, the direction to the other end, and the distance in that direction, . Thus the other end of the line segment is

These quantities are defined using the following parameters:

  • "position": the "start" point ,

  • "orientation": the direction (which gets automatically normalized), and

  • "length": the length(s) that sum to .

The most basic mesh specification is given by a single value for the parameters "length" and "n_elems", which correspond to the length of the component and number of uniformly-sized elements to use. For example, the following parameters would specify a total length m, divided into 100 elements (each with width 0.5 m):


length = 50
n_elems = 100

The "length" and "n_elems" parameters can also be supplied with multiple values. Multiple values correspond to splitting the length into segments that can have different element sizes. However, within each segment, the discretization is assumed uniform. The numbers of elements in each segment are specified with the parameter "n_elems", with entries corresponding to the entries in "length". For example, the following would also specify a total length m with 100 total elements, but in this case the first 10 m have 40 elements of size 0.25 m, whereas the last 40 m have 60 elements of size m.


length = '10 40'
n_elems = '40 60'

When using more than one entry in the "length" and "n_elems" parameters, the parameter "axial_region_names" is used to provide names that are used in the generation of corresponding block and boundary names (see Blocks and Boundaries).

Blocks and Boundaries

The user-given name to the flow channel component, say, <flow_channel>, is used internally to create a subdomain (also called a "block") name. If "length" has only one entry, then a single block of the name <flow_channel> is created; else the blocks <flow_channel>:<region> are created, where <region> is an entry in the "axial_region_names" parameter:

BlockDescription
<flow_channel>The 1D flow channel mesh (if only one entry in "length")
<flow_channel>:<region>The 1D flow channel mesh for region <region> (if more than one entry in "length")

Additionally, two boundary names are created with the following convention:

BoundaryDescription
<flow_channel_name>:inThe "start" end of the 1D flow channel mesh
<flow_channel_name>:outThe "end" end of the 1D flow channel mesh

Variables

The following solution variables are created on the flow channel:

VariableSymbolDescription
rhoAMass per unit length [kg/m]
rhouAMomentum per unit length; mass flow rate [kg/s]
rhoEAEnergy per unit length [J/m]
<passive_i>_times_areaPassive transport variable , if provided [amount/m]

The following auxiliary variables are created on the flow channel:

VariableSymbolDescription
ACross-sectional area [m] (piecewise constant)
A_linearCross-sectional area [m] (piecewise linear)
P_hfHeated perimeter [m]
vel_xVelocity component along the x-axis [m/s] (if specified to output vector-valued velocity)
vel_yVelocity component along the y-axis [m/s] (if specified to output vector-valued velocity)
vel_zVelocity component along the z-axis [m/s] (if specified to output vector-valued velocity)
velVelocity component along flow channel direction [m/s] (if specified not to output vector-valued velocity)
rhoDensity [kg/m]
pPressure [Pa]
TTemperature [K]
vSpecific volume [m/kg]
eSpecific internal energy [J/kg]
HSpecific total enthalpy [J/kg]

Material Properties

The following material properties are created on the flow channel:

Material PropertySymbolDescription
directionFlow channel direction vector [-]
rhoAMass per unit length [kg/m] (slope-reconstructed)
rhouAMomentum per unit length; mass flow rate [kg/s] (slope-reconstructed)
rhoEAEnergy per unit length [J/m] (slope-reconstructed)
velVelocity component along flow channel direction [m/s]
rhoDensity [kg/m]
pPressure [Pa]
TTemperature [K]
vSpecific volume [m/kg]
eSpecific internal energy [J/kg]
hSpecific enthalpy [J/kg]
HSpecific total enthalpy [J/kg]
cSound speed [m/s]
cpIsobaric specific heat capacity [J/(kg-K)]
cvIsochoric specific heat capacity [J/(kg-K)]
kThermal conductivity [W/(m-K)]
muDynamic viscosity [Pa-s]
f_DDarcy friction factor [-]
D_hHydraulic diameter [m]
q_wallWall heat flux [W/m] (if no connected heat transfer)

Formulation

See Berry et al. (2016) for a description of the single-phase flow formulation.

Convergence

If using ComponentsConvergence, a Convergence object of type MultiPostprocessorConvergence is used that returns CONVERGED if all of the following are true and returns ITERATING otherwise:

where

  • is the pressure at iteration ,

  • is the temperature at iteration ,

  • is the velocity at iteration ,

  • is a reference pressure,

  • is a reference temperature,

  • is a reference velocity,

  • is a reference density,

  • is a reference specific total energy,

  • is a reference cross-sectional area, evaluated at the midpoint of the channel,

  • is the minimum element size on the channel,

  • is a tolerance for the pressure step,

  • is a tolerance for the temperature step,

  • is a tolerance for the velocity step,

  • is the mass equation residual,

  • is the momentum equation residual,

  • is the energy equation residual,

  • is the mass equation tolerance,

  • is the momentum equation tolerance,

  • is the energy equation tolerance, and

  • is the norm over the channel.

commentnote:One iteration required

This object always returns ITERATING for the first iteration due to the usage of step criteria.

The following parameters are relevant for these checks:

  • "p_ref": The reference pressure ,

  • "T_ref": The reference temperature ,

  • "vel_ref": The reference velocity ,

  • "p_rel_step_tol": The relative step tolerance for pressure ,

  • "T_rel_step_tol": The relative step tolerance for temperature ,

  • "vel_rel_step_tol": The relative step tolerance for velocity ,

  • "mass_res_tol": The mass residual tolerance ,

  • "momentum_res_tol": The momentum residual tolerance ,

  • "energy_res_tol": The energy residual tolerance .

Input Files

Child Objects

References

  1. R. A. Berry, L. Zou, H. Zhao, H. Zhang, J. W. Peterson, R. C. Martineau, S. Y. Kadioglu, and D. Andrs. RELAP-7 theory manual. Technical Report INL/EXT-14-31366, Idaho National Laboratory, 2016.[BibTeX]