Gap Conductance and Temperature Transients in Modified Pulse Design Experiments

Computation of nuclear reactor fuel behavior under normal and off-normal conditions is influenced by gap conductance models. In this paper the gap conductance results obtained by the use of the GAPHTR model and a new model that has a more sound theoretical basis in the jump regime are compared for small gaps with the modified pulse design experimental data. The new model is found to provide a better and more satisfactory prediction of the experimental data.