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Analysis of institutional authors

Estévez-Albuja SCorresponding AuthorJimenez GAuthorVázquez-Rodríguez CAuthor

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AP1000 IRWST numerical analysis with GOTHIC

Publicated to:Nuclear Engineering And Design. 372 110991- - 2021-02-01 372(), DOI: 10.1016/j.nucengdes.2020.110991

Authors: Estévez-Albuja S; Jiménez G; Vázquez-Rodríguez C

Affiliations

Universidad Politécnica de Madrid - Author
‎ Univ Politecn Madrid UPM, Madrid, Spain - Author

Abstract

© 2020 Elsevier B.V. The AP1000 Passive Residual Heat Removal (PRHR) system plays a significant role as it helps to remove the core decay heat, using the In-containment Refueling Water Storage Tank (IRWST) as a heat sink. The IRWST is located above the core, promoting natural circulation and allowing to be the mid-term heat-sink for the reactor core. The thermo-hydraulic pool behavior during an accident has an influence in the containment pressure and temperature, as happens in the pressure suppression pool in BWR reactors. Due to the importance of the IRWST performance on the AP1000 containment, a numerical analysis of a scaled experiment has been done using the GOTHIC code. Firstly, an IRWST scaled-down model is created, a mesh sensitivity analysis is performed, and the results obtained are compared against experimental results available in the literature. It is found the importance of the mesh discretization for the proper thermal-stratification modeling. Then, the reference model setup and mesh are applied in a full-scale prototypic model. The mesh influence on the thermal stratification is analyzed, as well as its impact on the AP1000 containment pressure. The mesh and setup for the full-scale model are selected to be implemented in a full containment 3D model in future works.

Keywords

AccidentAp1000GothicHydraulicsIrwstNatural-convectionPrhrRemoval heat-exchangerThermal stratificationVertical tube

Quality index

Bibliometric impact. Analysis of the contribution and dissemination channel

The work has been published in the journal Nuclear Engineering And Design due to its progression and the good impact it has achieved in recent years, according to the agency Scopus (SJR), it has become a reference in its field. In the year of publication of the work, 2021, it was in position , thus managing to position itself as a Q1 (Primer Cuartil), in the category Mechanical Engineering.

From a relative perspective, and based on the normalized impact indicator calculated from the Field Citation Ratio (FCR) of the Dimensions source, it yields a value of: 1.28, which indicates that, compared to works in the same discipline and in the same year of publication, it ranks as a work cited above average. (source consulted: Dimensions Jun 2025)

Specifically, and according to different indexing agencies, this work has accumulated citations as of 2025-06-14, the following number of citations:

  • WoS: 2
  • Scopus: 7
  • OpenCitations: 5

Impact and social visibility

From the perspective of influence or social adoption, and based on metrics associated with mentions and interactions provided by agencies specializing in calculating the so-called "Alternative or Social Metrics," we can highlight as of 2025-06-14:

  • The use of this contribution in bookmarks, code forks, additions to favorite lists for recurrent reading, as well as general views, indicates that someone is using the publication as a basis for their current work. This may be a notable indicator of future more formal and academic citations. This claim is supported by the result of the "Capture" indicator, which yields a total of: 10 (PlumX).

Leadership analysis of institutional authors

There is a significant leadership presence as some of the institution’s authors appear as the first or last signer, detailed as follows: First Author (ESTÉVEZ ALBUJA, SAMANTA ESTEFANÍA) and Last Author (VÁZQUEZ RODRÍGUEZ, CARLOS).

the author responsible for correspondence tasks has been ESTÉVEZ ALBUJA, SAMANTA ESTEFANÍA.