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Results of experimental studies of local hydrodynamic characteristics of coolant flow in fuel assemblies of RWR reactors using different types of mixing spacer grids are presented. Specific features and regularities of coolant flow in fuel pin bundles of TVS-KVADRAT fuel assemblies with different types of mixing spacer grids were revealed in the course of experiments. Analysis of space distribution of projections of absolute flow velocity allowed detailed description of coolant flow beyond the spacer grid with installation of three different types of deflectors. Optimal design of deflector for spacer grid of the TVS-KVADRAT fuel assembly in the standard cell in the area of guiding channels was identified. Results of studies of local hydrodynamics of coolant flow in the TVS-KVADRAT fuel assembly are accepted for subsequent practical application by the JSC Afrikantov Experimental Design Bureau for Mechanical Engineering (OKBM) in the evaluations of thermal engineering reliability of PWR reactor cores and were included in the database for verification of computational fluid dynamic codes (CFD-codes) and implementation of detailed cell array calculations of PWR reactor cores.

The results of experimental investigations into the local hydrodynamics and inter-cell mass transfer of the coolant flow in representative zones of the KLT-40C reactor FAs behind the plate-type spacer grid are presented. The investigations were conducted on an aerodynamic rig using the admixture diffusion method (the tracer-gas method). A study into the spatial dispersion of the absolute flow velocity projections and into the distribution of the tracer concentration allowed specify the coolant flow pattern behind the FA plate-type spacer grid of the KLT-40C reactor. The results of measuring the flow friction coefficient in the plate-type spacer grid, depending on the Reynolds number, are presented. Based on the obtained experimental data, recommendations have been provided for updating the procedures to calculate the coolant flow rates for the KLT-40C reactor core by-channel codes. The results of investigating the coolant flow local hydrodynamics and mass transfer in the KLT-40C reactor FAs have been adopted for practical use by Afrikantov OKBM for estimating the heat-engineering reliability of the KLT-40C reactor cores and have been data based for verification of CFD codes and detailed by-channel calculation of the KLT-40C reactor core.