CFD simulations in heavy liquid metal flows for square lattice bare rod bundle geometries with a four parameter heat transfer turbulence model

The study of heat transfer in heavy liquid metals has gained more attention in the last several years due to their applications in new advanced nuclear reactors. These fluids are characterized by low Prandtl numbers and a peculiar heat transfer that cannot be accurately reproduced with standard turbulence approximations, such as the Simple Eddy Diffusivity model (SED), commonly used in commercial codes. In this paper we report the results obtained for the SED and a more advanced k–e–kt –et four parameter turbulence model for simulations in square lattice bare rod bundle geometries with different pitch-to-diameter ratios. We compare these numerical results with the available experimental data and correlations for the prediction of the Nusselt number.