The present Experimental Thermal-hydraulic Laboratory (ETL) evolved from the donation of the water system, installed in 1981 as a part of a technical-scientific cooperation agreement signed then between Brazil — represented by the Brazilian Nuclear Energy Commission (CNEN) — and the Federal Republic of Germany.

ETL is one of the best facilities in Rio de Janeiro to carry out studies in experimental thermal-hydraulic. Besides research on the development of techniques for measuring biphasic outflow — such as the ultrasound techniques being studied in the laboratory — it gives experimental support to IEN’s development of computing programs for thermal-hydraulic simulation.

The circuit is also utilized in the training of graduate and post-graduate mechanical and nuclear engineering students from institutions such as UFRJ e CEFET, and is one of the main support facilities to the Professional Masters Course in Nuclear Reactor Engineering at IEN.

The main research lines at ETL are:

• Study and assessment of biphasic outflow through ultrasound techniques, utilizing the Water-Air Biphasic Outflow Simulation Test Section
• Reduced-scale simulation of nuclear reactor passive residual heat removal systems, via natural convection, at the Natural Convection Circuit (NCC).

ETL research lines also have the collaboration of the Laboratory of Simulation and Methods in Engineering (LASME) of the Nuclear Engineering Program of COPPE/UFRJ, and of the Department of Engineering Physics of the McMaster University (Canada).

Water Circuit

The Water Circuit was designed for personnel training at secondary, university graduate and post-graduate levels. Its characteristics allow it to be used in research, either in post-graduation theses or supporting IEN’s research lines.

Natural Convection Circuit

The Natural Circulation Circuit (CCN), dimensioned to a 1:10 in height reduced scale, is similar to the prototype of a passive natural-convection residual heat removal system, like the PWR AP-600 reactor system. It was designed to accomplish the following objectives: development of competence in the application of similarity criteria to the construction of experimental facilities; validation of computational theoretical models through experimental tests; development of measurement techniques and of competence in building and operating experimental facilities, and personnel training.

Biphasic Outflow Simulation Test Section

The Test Section was designed to allow the performance of ultrasound measurements of the rate of monophasic water outflow, and the characterization of horizontal biphasic outflow.

The Experimental Thermal-hydraulic Laboratory offers opportunities for supervised academic training programs, scientific initiation with CNPq and CNEN scholarships, experimental work for mechanical engineering students’ conclusion projects, and masters and doctoral theses. For more information, contact the LTE manager:

José Luiz H. Faccini, Engineer, M.Sc.
E-mail: faccini@ien.gov.br
Phone: + 55 (21) 2173-3910
FAX: + 55 (21) 2173-3881
Rua Hélio de Almeida, 75
Cidade Universitária - Ilha do Fundão
Caixa Postal 68550 - CEP 21941-972
Rio de Janeiro - RJ