Chronology

2013

• Completion of assembling and initial operation of the test basin for investigation of condensation phenomena at free surfaces and sub cooled liquid jets
• Completion of the tests in the vertical test section Ti-tube by execution of downwards air- and steam-water experiments using non-invasive ultra fast X-ray tomography
• Successful finish of the international Pressurized Thermal Shock project

2012

• Completion of the steady-state tests and execution of transient experiments in the "Pressurized Thermal Shock" test rig in the frame of the PTS project
• Data evaluation of the steady-state and transient PTS tests
• Finalization of the assembling and commissioning of the test rig for single effect investigation during steam condensation inside a slightly inclined tube using X-ray tomography
• Installation of the test basin for investigation of condensation phenomena at free surfaces and sub cooled liquid jets at a test platform of the TOPFLOW pressure tank
• Repeat of the upwards air-water tests and execution of counter-current flows on the vertical DN50 test section using ultrafast X-ray tomography
• Successful licensing of the tomographic laboratory for X-ray operation

2011

• Visual investigation of the flow behavior of an Emergency Core Cooling jet during injection into a Cold Leg model of a Pressurized Water Reactor in consideration of variable thermo hydraulic conditions
• Execution of steady-state steam-water tests on the Pressurized Thermal Shock test rig
• Build-up of a tomographic laboratory in the basement of the TOPFLOW building and installation of the necessary pipeworks for thermo hydraulic experiments
• Assembling of a test rig for single effect investigation during steam condensation inside a slightly inclined tube using X-ray tomography

2010

• Completion of the extensive and high quality steam-water tests in a DN200 vertical test section for the quantitative analysis of steam condensation along the pipe and on evaporation effects caused by pressure release
• Realization of an experimental series for upstream air-water flows in a vertical DN50 tube using non-invasive ultra fast X-ray tomography
• Assembling and commissioning of a test basin for investigation of condensation phenomena at free surfaces and sub cooled liquid jets
• Design of a test rig for single effect investigation during steam condensation inside a slightly inclined tube using X-ray tomography
• Execution of air/water tests for the analysis of mixing processes inside a 1:2.5 scaled model of a Pressurized Water Reactor Cold Leg and Downcomer
• Assembling of a test rig for boiling investigation for a refrigerant fluid inside a fuel rod bundle model

2009

• Completion of the mechanical installation of the special measuring systems on a Cold Leg and Downcomer model of a Pressurized Water Reactor for Pressurized Thermal Shock tests
• Assembling and test of 2 enhanced high temperature wire mesh sensors DN200 for condensation experiments in a vertical tube
• Data evaluation and analysis of air/water- and steam/water tests, executed in the Hot Leg model of a Pressurized Water Reactor
• Installation and commissioning of the ultra fast X-ray tomograph on the vertical DN50 test section Ti-tube, application for the operating licence for the X-ray device
• Design and engineering of a test basin for investigation of steam condensation on free surfaces, on a subcooled liquid jet and study of the bubble entrainment around an impinging jet
• Engineering of the experimental equipment for the analysis of subcooled boiling inside a fuel rod bundle model

2008

• Completion of steam/water tests in the hot leg model with pressures up to 5 MPa
• Completion of measurements for the flow evaluation in a vertical DN200 test section with constant pressure at the gas injection
• Dismounting of the Emergency Condenser Tank out of the TOPFLOW building
• Assembling of a thin-walled vertical testsection DN50 for the non-invasiv investigation of two-phase flows with pressures up to 6.5 MPa using an ultra-fast X-ray tomograph
• Extension of the TOPFLOW pressure vessel with a saturated water citcuitry and a cold water injection system for the execution of non-adiabatic experiments in a test basin
• Design and assembling of the test rig for Pressurized Thermal Shock experiments in the TOPFLOW pressure vessel

2007

• Realisation of extensive and high-quality measurements for the evaluation of a vertical flow in a DN200 pipe with constant pressure (0.25 MPa) and temperature (30 °C) at the gas injection
• Investigation of free surface dynamics in gas/water flows at the horizontal flow channel
• Analysis of interfacial area evolution and momentum exchange in stratified air/water flows at the hot leg model
• Execution of first steam/water tests in the hot leg model with pressures up to 1.5 MPa
• Erection and commissioning of a high pressure nitrogen unit for the inertisation of the TOPFLOW pressure tank during steam/water tests
• Design, assembling and commissioning of a degasification module for the feed water of the electrical steam generator circuit of TOPFLOW

2006

• Carrying out of pretests with heat and mass transfer: condensation of steam in sub-cooled water in the vertical test section DN200
• Continuation of the experiments for investigation of local flow phenomena around an asymmetrical obstacle in a vertical DN200 pipe
• Test of suitable materials for thermal insulation of the hot leg model for investigation of interfacial area evolution and momentum exchange in stratified flows
• Assembling and operation of a horizontal flow channel for investigation of free surface dynamics in gas/water flows

2005

• Continuation of the steam/water tests in the vertical test section "Variable Gas Injection" DN200
• Assembly of the second advanced high temperature wire-mesh sensor for the test section DN200
• Completion of manufacturing of the hot leg model
• Preparation of the TOPFLOW facility for steam/water tests, aimed to the investigation of local flow phenomena around an asymmetrical obstacle in a vertical DN200 pipe
• Preparation of the tests for studying the interfacial area of free surfaces in the hot leg model

2004

• Continuation of air/water tests in the vertical test section "Variable Gas Injection" DN200
• Final assembly of two high temperature wire-mesh sensors for the vertical test section DN50
• Investigation of the flow patterns in a steam/water flow in a vertical tube DN50
• Design, manufacture and commissioning of the first high temperature wire-mesh sensor for the test section DN200
• Start of steam/water tests in the test section "Variable Gas Injection" DN200
• Erection of an annexe to building 68 to extend the experimental possibilities of the TOPFLOW facility

2003

• Execution of the first series of experiments in the vertical test sections DN50 and DN200 (February until July)
• Test of the facility behaviour with the maximum electrical power of 4 MW on April the 30^th
• Completion of the controller adjustment works and of the basic stage of the Process Control System
• Final inspection of the test facility by the Technical Supervisory Authority (TÜV Süddeutschland) on September the 23^th
• Investigation of the evolution of two-phase flows in the new test section DN200 "Variable Gas Injection" under ambient conditions

2002

• Construction of TOPFLOW facility was finished in June
• Realisation of pressure tests in the high and low pressure parts of the facility (June/July)
• Successful final inspection of the pipework as well as the measuring and control systems of TOPFLOW by the Technical Supervisory Authority (TÜV-Süddeutschland) on July the 29^th and 30^th
• First continuous operation of the steam generator for several hours on August the 17^th
• On October the 19^th, the test facility achieved the design parameters of 7.0 MPa and 286 °C for the first time
• Finish of the first phase of the initial operation

2001

• Complete dismantlement of the Emergency Condenser Test Facility, reconditioning and transportation of selected components from Jülich to Rossendorf
• Beginning of assembling of the TOPFLOW facility at Dresden-Rossendorf in March

2000

• Elaboration of a takeover agreement between FZ Jülich and Dresden-Rossendorf
• Beginning of the reconstruction of building 68 at FZD
• Transportation of the first components from the Emergency Condenser Test Facility to FZD

1997-1999

Design and planning of the multipurpose thermal hydraulic test facility TOPFLOW for the investigation of generic and application-oriented thermal hydraulic phenomena in stationary and transient two-phase flows on the basis of the Centre of Excellence for Nuclear Technology in Saxony, consisting of the Technische Universität Dresden (TUD), the Hochschule Zittau/Görlitz (HTW Zittau/Görlitz) and the Forschungszentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (FZD), using some components of the Emergency Condenser Test Facility of Forschungszentrum Jülich (FZJ).