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Natural circulation refers to the ability of a fluid in a system to circulate continuously, with gravity and changes in heat energy (temperature) being the only driving force. This force is known as "thermal head" or "thermal driving head."

A fluid system designed for natural circulation will have a heat source and a heat sink. Each of these is in contact with some of the fluid in the system, but not all of it. The heat source is positioned lower than the heat sink.

Most materials that are fluid at common temperatures expand when they are heated, becoming less dense. Correspondingly, they become denser when they are cooled. At the heat source of a system of natural circulation, the heated fluid becomes lighter than the fluid surrounding it, and thus rises. At the heat sink, the nearby fluid becomes denser as it cools, and is drawn downward by gravity. Together, these effects create a flow of fluid from the heat source to the heat sink and back again.

Systems of natural circulation include tornadoes and other weather systems, ocean currents, and household ventilation. Some solar water heaters use natural circulation.

In a nuclear reactor, natural circulation can be a design criterion. It is achieved by reducing turbulence and friction in the fluid flow (that is, minimizing head loss), and by providing a way to remove any inoperative pumps from the fluid path. Also, the reactor (as the heat source) must be physically lower than the steam generators or turbines (the heat sink). In this way, natural circulation will ensure that the fluid will continue to flow as long as the reactor is hotter than the heat sink, even when power cannot be supplied to the pumps.

Notable examples are the S5G ^[1][2][3] and S8G ^[4][5][6] United States Naval reactors, which were designed to operate at a significant fraction of full power under natural circulation, quieting those propulsion plants. The S6G reactor cannot operate at power under natural circulation, but can use it to maintain emergency cooling while shut down.

One of the major drawbacks to natural circulation is that fluids do not typically move very fast; it is only capable of very low flow rates. In most cases, even a very small, inexpensive pump could outperform natural circulation. The other problem is that if for some reason flow is stopped in a loop, there are cases in which flow could startup in the opposite direction.

• Convection
• Natural ventilation
• Pressure head

1. ^ Technical Innovations of the Submarine Force. Chief of Naval Operations Submarine Warfare Division. Retrieved on March 12, 2006.
2. ^ Appendix C, Attachment to NR:IBO-05/023, Evaluation of Naval Reactors Facility Radioactive Waste Disposed of at the Radioactive Waste Management Complex (PDF). Retrieved on March 12, 2006.
3. ^ SSN-671 Narwhal. Globalsecurity.org. Retrieved on March 12, 2006.
4. ^ Энциклопедия кораблей /Ракетные ПЛ /Огайо (Russian). Retrieved on March 12, 2006.
5. ^ The Ohio, US Navy's nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine. Retrieved on March 12, 2006.
6. ^ Members-only feature, registration required. Retrieved on March 12, 2006.

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