Thermohydraulics analysis of the University of Utah TRIGA Reactor of higher power designs

The natural convective flow conditions of the University of Utah TRIGA Reactor (UUTR) were simulated using SolidWorks Flow Simulation, Ansys Fluent and PARET-ANL. The simulations were run at UUTR's maximum operating power of 90 kW and at theoretical higher powers to analyze the thermohydraulics aspects of increasing the reactor's power in determining a design basis for higher power including the cost estimate. It was found that the natural convection current becomes much more pronounced at higher power levels with vortex shedding also occurring. A departure from nucleate boiling analysis showed that while nucleate boiling begins near 210 kW it remains in this state and does not approach the critical heat flux at powers up to 500 kW. Two upgrades are proposed for extended operations: $5,000 to offer extended runtimes up to 150 kW and a theoretical, replacement cooling system with materials estimated at $180,000.