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At least 91 records · Page 5

High Flux Isotope Reactor Low-Enriched Uranium High Density Silicide Fuel Preliminary Design Update: System Transient Analysis

As a part of conversion efforts from highly enriched uranium (HEU) to low-enriched uranium (LEU) fuel under direction of the National Nuclear Security Administration of the U.S. Department of Energy, multiple proposed designs of the High Flux Isotope Reactor (HFIR) have been created and assessed regarding reactor physics performance metrics, including designs utilizing uranium silicide dispersion fuel (U3Si2-Al). This report updates the previous analyses that evaluated the nuclear safety performance of LEU fuel designs with respect to selected accident events from the HFIR Safety Analysis Report (SAR). Both the Low Density (LD) and High Density (HD) Optimized designs’ reactivity initiated accident fuel performance improved relative to the HEU fuel, attributed to greater 238 U negative Doppler feedback. However, the thermal margins for primary coolant system accidents were reduced with some acceptance criteria unable to be met. The need to resolve reduced thermal margin, open modeling items, and unresolved assumptions was identified.

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗

Transient analysis of an IVHM grapple impact test

A lumped mass model was used to represent the impact condition between a fuel duct and an IVHM in-vessel fuel handling machine. The nonlinear effects of a Bellville spring and the free fall impact of the fuel duct on the IVHM were included. The purpose of the tests was to determine the loads on the fuel duct due to the impact. A comparison between experimental and theoretical results is presented.

Hill, R. G.↗

Gas-core reactor power transient analysis.

The nuclear fuel in the gas-core reactor concept is a ball of uranium plasma radiating thermal photons. The photons are met by an inflowing hydrogen stream, which is seeded with submicron size, depleted uranium particles. A 'wall-burnout' condition exists if the thermal photons can reach the cavity liner because of insufficient absorption by the hydrogen. An analysis was conducted in order to determine the time for which the maximum steady state reactor power could be exceeded without damage to the cavity liner due to burnout. Wall-burnout time as a function of the power increase above the initial steady state condition is shown in a graph.

Kascak, A. F.↗

Transient analysis of phase-locked tracking systems in the presence of noise.

This paper is concerned with the problem of obtaining time-dependent solutions to a class of Fokker-Planck equations that arise in the analysis and synthesis of a variety of first-order synchronization systems employing the phase-lock principle. These include the classical sinusoidal phase-locked loop, squaring and Costas loops, data-aided loops, hybrid loops, various symbol synchronizer mechanizations, and tunnel-diode oscillators. By analyzing the spectral properties of the associated time-dependent Fokker-Planck boundary value problem, eigenfunction expansions of the reduced modulo-2-pi phase-error-transition probability-density function are developed for a class of first-order synchronization systems.

La Frieda, J. R.↗

Nonlinear transient analysis by energy minimization: A theoretical basis for the ACTION computer code

The formulation basis for establishing the static or dynamic equilibrium configurations of finite element models of structures which may behave in the nonlinear range are provided. With both geometric and time independent material nonlinearities included, the development is restricted to simple one and two dimensional finite elements which are regarded as being the basic elements for modeling full aircraft-like structures under crash conditions. Representations of a rigid link and an impenetrable contact plane are added to the deformation model so that any number of nodes of the finite element model may be connected by a rigid link or may contact the plane. Equilibrium configurations are derived as the stationary conditions of a potential function of the generalized nodal variables of the model. Minimization of the nonlinear potential function is achieved by using the best current variable metric update formula for use in unconstrained minimization. Powell's conjugate gradient algorithm, which offers very low storage requirements at some slight increase in the total number of calculations, is the other alternative algorithm to be used for extremely large scale problems.

Kamat, M. P.↗

A method to model latent heat for transient analysis using NASTRAN

A sample heat transfer analysis is demonstrated which includes the heat of fusion. The method can be used to analyze a system with nonconstant specific heat. The enthalpy is introduced as an independent degree of freedom at each node. The user input consists of a curve of temperature as a function of enthalpy, which may include a constant temperature phase change. The basic NASTRAN heat transfer capability is used to model the effects of latent heat with existing direct matrix output and nonlinear load data cards. Although some user care is required, the numerical stability of the integration is quite good when the given recommendations are followed. The theoretical equations used and the NASTRAN techniques are shown.

Harder, R. L.↗

Semi-implicit transient analysis procedures for structural dynamics analysis

A semi-implicit direct time integration procedure is presented which avoids factorization of the implicit difference solution matrix. The procedure, if properly implemented, requires only vectorial calculations and hence needs the same computer core space as explicit integration procedures. Guidelines for splitting the stiffness matrix into upper and lower matrices are established, which among other things are designed to satisfy a correct transmission of rigid-body motions from element (or grid) to its adjacent elements.

Park, K. C.↗

Improving transient analysis technology for aircraft structures

Aircraft dynamic analyses are demanding of computer simulation capabilities. The modeling complexities of semi-monocoque construction, irregular geometry, high-performance materials, and high-accuracy analysis are present. At issue are the safety of the passengers and the integrity of the structure for a wide variety of flight-operating and emergency conditions. The technology which supports engineering of aircraft structures using computer simulation is examined. Available computer support is briefly described and improvement of accuracy and efficiency are recommended. Improved accuracy of simulation will lead to a more economical structure. Improved efficiency will result in lowering development time and expense.

Melosh, R. J.↗

Transient analysis techniques in performing impact and crash dynamic studies

Because of the emphasis being placed on crashworthiness as a design requirement, increasing demands are being made by various organizations to analyze a wide range of complex structures that must perform safely when subjected to severe impact loads, such as those generated in a crash event. The ultimate goal of crashworthiness design and analysis is to produce vehicles with the ability to reduce the dynamic forces experienced by the occupants to specified levels, while maintaining a survivable envelope around them during a specified crash event. DYCAST is a nonlinear structural dynamic finite element computer code that started from the plans systems of a finite element program for static nonlinear structural analysis. The essential features of DYCAST are outlined.

Pifko, A. B.↗

Perimeter Governed Minority Carrier Lifetimes in 4H-SiC p+n Diodes Measured by Reverse Recovery Switching Transient Analysis

Minority carrier lifetimes in epitaxial 4H-SiC p-n junction diodes were measured via an analysis of reverse recovery switching characteristics. Behavior of reverse recovery storage time (t(sub s)) as a function of initial ON-state forward current (I(sub f)) and OFF-state reverse current (I(sub R)) followed well-documented trends which have been observed for decades in silicon p-n rectifiers. Average minority carrier (hole) lifetimes (tau(sub p)) calculated from plots of t(sub s) vs I(sub R)/I(sub F) strongly decreased with decreasing device area. Bulk and perimeter components of average hole lifetimes were separated by plotting tau(sub p) as a function of device perimeter-to-area ratio (P/A). This plot reveals that perimeter recombination is dominant in these devices, whose areas are all less than 1 square mm. The bulk minority carrier (hole) lifetime extracted from the 1/Tau(sub p) vs P/A plot is approximately 0.7 microns, well above the 60 ns to 300 ns average lifetimes obtained when perimeter recombination effects are ignored in the analysis. Given the fact that there has been little previous investigation of bipolar diode and transistor performance as a function of perimeter-to-area ratio, this work raises the possibility that perimeter recombination may be partly responsible for poor effective minority carrier lifetimes and limited performance obtained in many previous SiC bipolar junction devices.

Neudeck, Philip G.↗

Perimeter Governed Minority Carrier Lifetimes in 4H-SiC p(+)-n Diodes Measured by Reverse Recovery Switching Transient Analysis

Minority carrier lifetimes in epitaxial 4H-SiC p(+)-n junction diodes were measured via an analysis of reverse recovery switching characteristics. Behavior of reverse recovery storage time (t(s)) as a function of initial ON-state forward current (I(F)) and OFF-state reverse current (I(R)) followed well-documented trends which have been observed for decades in silicon p-n rectifiers. Average minority carrier (hole) lifetimes (tau(p)) calculated from plots of t(s) vs I(R)/I(F) strongly decreased with decreasing device area. Bulk and perimeter components of average hole lifetimes were separated by plotting 1/tau(p) as a function of device perimeter-to- area ratio (P/A). This plot reveals that perimeter recombination is dominant in these devices, whose areas are all less than 1 sq mm. The bulk minority carrier (hole) lifetime extracted from the 1/tau(p) vs P/A plot is approximately 0.7 micro-s, well above the 60 ns to 300 ns average iit'eptimes obtained when perimeter recombination effects are ignored in the analysis. Given the fact that there has been little previous investigation of bipolar diode and transistor performance as a function of perimeter-to-area ratio, this work raises the possibility that perimeter recombination may be partly responsible for poor effective minority carrier lifetimes and limited performance obtained in many previous SiC bipolar junction devices.

Neudeck, Philip G.↗

Rocket Engine Nozzle Side Load Transient Analysis Methodology: A Practical Approach

At the sea level, a phenomenon common with all rocket engines, especially for a highly over-expanded nozzle, during ignition and shutdown is that of flow separation as the plume fills and empties the nozzle, Since the flow will be separated randomly. it will generate side loads, i.e. non-axial forces. Since rocket engines are designed to produce axial thrust to power the vehicles, it is not desirable to be excited by non-axial input forcing functions, In the past, several engine failures were attributed to side loads. During the development stage, in order to design/size the rocket engine components and to reduce the risks, the local dynamic environments as well as dynamic interface loads have to be defined. The methodology developed here is the way to determine the peak loads and shock environments for new engine components. In the past it is not feasible to predict the shock environments, e.g. shock response spectra, from one engine to the other, because it is not scaleable. Therefore, the problem has been resolved and the shock environments can be defined in the early stage of new engine development. Additional information is included in the original extended abstract.

Shi, John J.↗

Reduced Order Modeling of SLS Liquid Hydrogen Pre-Valve Flow Guide to Enable Rapid Transient Analysis

NASA is developing a new launch vehicle, called the Space Launch System (SLS), which is intended on taking humans out of low earth orbit to destinations including the moon, asteroids, and Mars. The propulsion system for the core stage of this vehicle includes four RS-25 Liquid Hydrogen/Oxygen rocket engines. These engines are upgraded versions of the Space Shuttle Main Engines (SSME); the upgrades include higher power levels and affordability enhancements. As with any new vehicle, the Main Propulsion System (MPS), which include the feedlines and ancillary hardware connecting the engines to the fuel and oxidizer tanks, had to be redesigned (figure 1 - export clearance in progress), as the previous MPS for the SSME's was inherently part of the Space Shuttle System, which had a completely different overall configuration.

Brown, Andrew M.↗

Fluid Transient Analysis during Priming of Evacuated Line

Water hammer analysis in pipe lines, in particularly during priming into evacuated lines is important for the design of spacecraft and other in-space application. In the current study, a finite volume network flow analysis code is used for modeling three different geometrical configurations: the first two being straight pipe, one with atmospheric air and other with evacuated line, and the third case is a representation of a complex flow network system. The numerical results show very good agreement qualitatively and quantitatively with measured data available in the literature. The peak pressure and impact time in case of straight pipe priming in evacuated line shows excellent agreement.

Bandyopadhyay, Alak↗