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At least 109 records · Page 6

Combustion Kinetics Model Development & Fluid Property Experimental Investigation For Improved Design Of Supercritical CO 2 Power Cycle Components

Supercritical carbon dioxide (sCO 2 ) cycles are being investigated for the future of power generation and will contribute to a carbon-neutral future to combat the effects of climate change. These direct-fired closed cycles will produce power without adding significant pollutants to the atmosphere. For such cycles to be efficient, they will need to operate at significantly higher pressures (e.g., 300 atm for Allam Cycle) than existing systems (typically less than 40 atm). There is limited knowledge on combustion at these high pressures and with a high dilution of carbon dioxide. Also, various experimental and computational investigations and model developments have been performed by the University of Central Florida (UCF), Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (ERAU), and Stanford University (S.U.) to improve the current knowledge base and support the design and development of sCO 2 combustors. This project's technical aspects include chemical kinetics development, fundamental sCO 2 combustion, combustion model and sub-model development, supercritical fluid injection characterization, and heat transfer characterization.

20 FOSSIL-FUELED POWER PLANTS↗

Performance Evaluation of a Prototype Moving Packed-Bed Particle/sCO 2 Heat Exchanger

Particle heat exchangers are a critical enabling technology for next generation concentrating solar power (CSP) plants that use supercritical carbon dioxide (sCO 2 ) as a working fluid. This report covers the design, manufacturing and testing of a prototype particle-to-sCO 2 heat exchanger targeting thermal performance levels required to meet commercial scale cost targets. In addition, the the design and assembly of integrated particle and sCO 2 flow loops for heat exchanger performance testing are detailed. The prototype heat exchanger was tested to particle inlet temperatures of 500 °C at 17 MPa which resulted in overall heat transfer coefficients of approximately 300 W/m 2 -K at the design point and cases using high approach temperature with peak values as high as 400 W/m 2 -K

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗

Extension of Plant Dynamics Code Capabilities for Simulation of TerraPower Pascal Reactor

Argonne National Laboratory has been developing the Plant Dynamics Code (PDC) for design and transient analysis of supercritical carbon dioxide (sCO 2 ) Brayton cycles. In previous analyses with PDC, only indirect sCO 2 cycles, where the heat is being added through a heat exchanger, such as sodium-to-CO 2 HX, were analyzed. Under the U.S. Department of Energy Technology Commercialization Fund (TCF), Argonne cooperated with TerraPower to bring the Plant Dynamics Code to commercial market. The main focus of the TCF project is to extend the application base and the code usability by developing the capabilities to be able to simulate reactor systems with direct sCO 2 cycles. These new PDC capabilities have been developed in application to the TerraPower’s Pascal reactor concept. This report documents the Pascal reactor modeling with the PDC, including simulation of the Pascal split-expansion cycle, the development of the reactor module in the PDC, modeling of the Pascal’s shutdown heat removal system in PDC, and other updates to the code. The report also describes the results of the steady state and transient demonstration of the newly developed code features.

21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS↗

Pressure drop and heat transfer characteristics of nitrate salt and supercritical CO 2 in a diffusion-bonded heat exchanger

A lab-scale 316/L stainless steel diffusion-bonded heat exchanger was examined within a coupled high-temperature test facility consisting of an atmospheric-pressure nitrate salt loop and a supercritical carbon dioxide (sCO 2 ) loop operating between 10 and 16 MPa. Pressure loss measurements collected for flow rates up to 0.55 kg/s of Solar Salt and up to 0.6 kg/s of carbon dioxide were used to generate friction factor correlations for the respective circular and semicircular zig-zag flow passages. Heat transfer measurements were also performed over a wide range of conditions to produce Nusselt correlations for the CO 2 and nitrate salt geometries. The Nusselt number is deduced from a heat transfer resistance network and overall conductance measurements collected across the operating envelope of the coupled sCO 2 – nitrate salt test facility. The CO 2 side correlation showed excellent agreement with existing correlations in the literature. Further, the salt side, having nearly circular channels with a different zig-zag angle and hydraulic diameter, yielded a new correlation applicable to the laminar flow regime. To examine the similitude of the friction correlations, pressure drop testing with water was performed on both sides of the component as well. Finally, results from non-destructive examination are discussed to provide insights regarding inspection methods and draining performance of high-temperature liquids in compact heat exchangers.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Iron corrosion in the “inert” supercritical CO 2 , ab initio dynamics insights: How impurities matter

Metal corrosion from exposure to supercritical fluids is a long-standing challenge lacking atomistic understanding for effective corrosion prevention in diverse important applications. Here, in this work, reactions relevant to corrosion in supercritical CO 2 (sCO 2 ), with H 2 O and NO 2 as impurities, are revealed using ab initio molecular dynamics and enhanced sampling methods. While little reactivity is observed in bulk sCO 2 , the iron surface is found to play a crucial almost-catalytic role in its own corrosion, activating the inert CO2 and hence facilitating $\ast$HCO 3 – and $\ast$CO 3 2– formation at the interface. Moreover, the hydrogen bond network of $\ast$H 2 O assists the H shuttling to the activated CO 2 and impurities, forming reactive species observed in experiments. Such atomistic insight elucidates the reaction mechanisms of metal corrosion in aqueous and supercritical fluids and can point to possible remedies.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Improving Predictions of Spin-Crossover Complex Properties through DFT Calculations with a Local Hybrid Functional

We conducted a study on the performance of the local hybrid exchange-correlation functional PBE0r for a set of 95 experimentally-characterized iron spin crossover (SCO) complexes. The PBE0r functional is a variant of PBE0 where the exchange correction is restricted to on-site terms formulated within the basis of local orbitals. We determine the free parameters of the PBE0r functional against experimental data and other hybrid functionals. With a Hartree-Fock (HF) exchange factor of 4%, the PBE0r functional accurately reproduces the electronic and free energy trends predicted in prior DFT studies for these 95 complexes using the B3LYP functional. Larger values of HF exchange stabilize high-spin states. The PBE0r-predicted bond lengths tend to exceed the experimental bond lengths, and bond lengths are less sensitive to HF exchange. The predicted SCO transition temperatures T 1/2 from PBE0r correlate moderately with the experimental transition temperatures, showing a slight improvement compared to the previous modB3LYP-predicted T 1/2 . Furthermore, this study suggests the PBE0r functional as computationally cost-effective and offers the possibility of simulating larger complexes with accuracy comparable to other global hybrid functionals, provided the HF exchange parameter is carefully optimized.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗

Structural dynamics of a thermally silent triiron( II ) spin crossover defect grid complex

The structural evolution of spin crossover (SCO) complexes during their spin transition at equilibrium and out-of-equilibrium conditions needs to be understood to enable their successful utilisation in displays, actuators and memory components. In this study, diffraction techniques were employed to study the structural changes accompanying the temperature increase and the light irradiation of a defect [2 × 2] triiron(II) metallogrid of the form [Fe II 3 L H 2 (HL H ) 2 ](BF 4 ) 4 ·4MeCN (FE3), L H = 3,5-bis{6-(2,2'-bipyridyl)}pyrazole. Although a multi-temperature crystallographic investigation on single crystals evidenced that the compound does not exhibit a thermal spin transition, the structural analysis of the defect grid suggests that the flexibility of the grid, provided by a metal-devoid vertex, leads to interesting characteristics that can be used for intermolecular cooperativity in related thermally responsive systems. Time-resolved photocrystallography results reveal that upon excitation with a ps laser pulse, the defect grid shows the first two steps of the out-of-equilibrium process, namely the photoinduced and elastic steps, occurring at the ps and ns time scales, respectively. Similar to a previously reported [2 × 2] tetrairon(II) metallogrid, FE3 exhibits a local distortion of the entire grid during the photoinduced step and a long-range distortion of the lattice during the elastic step. Although the lifetime of the pure photoinduced high spin (HS) state is longer in the tetranuclear grid than in the defect grid, suggesting that the global nuclearity plays a crucial role for the lifetime of the photoinduced species, the influence of the co-crystalising solvent on the lifetime of the photoinduced HS state remains unknown. This study sheds light on the out-of-equilibrium dynamics of a thermally silent defect triiron SCO metallogrid.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Measurement of Convective Heat Transfer Coefficients With Supercritical CO 2 Using the Wilson-Plot Technique

This paper describes the measurement of convective heat transfer coefficients and friction factors for sCO 2 flowing in a smooth tube and compares the results with published correlations for validation. The paper also describes the Heat Exchange and Experimental Testing (HEET) rig recently designed and built at the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DoE’s) National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) in Morgantown, WV. Here, the Wilson-plot technique used for measuring the heat transfer coefficients is described along with the data reduction process. The Wilson-plot technique was chosen as the basis for the design of NETL’s HEET rig. Advantages of the Wilson-plot technique include the (1) ability to measure high convective heat transfer coefficients accurately, (2) ability to measure average heat transfer coefficient for complicated heat exchange geometries like those produced using additive manufacturing, (3) ability to measure heat transfer coefficients on both sides of a heat exchanger independently, and (4) simplicity of experimental setup. Capabilities of the HEET rig include pressure to 24 MPa (3500 psig), temperature to 538 °C (1000 °F), mass flow rate to 1.5 kg/s (3 lb/s), and Re to 500,000. The rig is designed to operate with pure CO 2 or a mixture of CO 2 and up to 10% N2 by volume to study the impact of gas mixtures typical of direct-fired sCO 2 power cycles on the convective heat transfer and pressure drop. Preliminary tests in the HEET rig were performed with smooth stainless-steel tube and pure CO 2 , and the results were compared with published correlations for Nusselt number (Nu) and friction factor. Over a Reynolds number (Re) range from 58,000 to 228,000, measured Nu was compared to predictions using the Dittus and Boelter equation (Kreith and Bohn, 1993, “Principles of Heat Transfer, West Publishing Company”) within 5% and measured friction factors were compared to predictions using the McAdams correlation (“McAdams, 1954, “Heat Transmission,” 3rd ed., McGraw Hill, New York)” for smooth tube to be within 5%.

42 ENGINEERING↗

Operation, maintenance, and installation instructions for HLW thermal catalytic oxidizer/reducer (TCO)

The HLW TCO Units are a combination of four rectangular vessels; the Recuperative Heat Exchanger, Electric Heater, Selective Catalytic Oxidizer (SCO), and the Selective Catalytic Reducer (SCR). Each housing is simply a closed rectangular box with formed angle stiffeners welded to the outside perimeter. The housings are connected with process piping and sit on a skid. There is an external frame to support all major process piping and the Electric Heater. The process piping consists of a 14" inlet which enters the heat exchanger. Then the off-gas flows through 18" cross over piping which leads to the heater. Once the off-gas is heated, another section of 18" process piping leads the off-gas through the SCO and SCR. The off-gas then flows through the heat exchanger before exiting through 16" process piping which leads to the customer's piping. The other equipment associated with the HLW TCO is the Ammonia Dilution Skid. The dilution skid controls the ammonia injection into the off-gas. The dilution skid supports two process lines, a 2" line and a 1" line which carries process air and anhydrous ammonia respectively. Ammonia injection into the off-gas is required prior to entering the SCR to ensure the NOx reduction occurs through the SCR catalyst bank.

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE W↗

High Temperature Ceramic Heat Exchangers for the Gen3 Concentrated Solar Power Systems

As part of the Department of Energy’s Solar Energy Technology Office (SETO), the Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) Gen3 Demonstration Roadmap outlined the various technology pathways, goals, and technology needs/gaps to integrate CSP to a supercritical CO 2 (sCO 2 ) power cycle that operates at temperatures >700 °C. It is envisioned that the higher temperature power cycle will enhance the overall system efficiencies and reduce the levelized cost of electricity (LCOE) to meet a 2030 cost target of $0.05/kWhe for baseload CSP plants with ≥12 hours of storage. In this regard, there is a need for heat exchangers (HXs) that can operate at high sCO 2 pressures and temperatures >700 °C. Since current high-temperature alloys degrade at high temperatures, as part of this project, advanced ceramic materials, HX designs, and low-cost additive manufacturing approaches were developed to fabricate and evaluate the performance of the lab-scale ceramic HX prototypes.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗

Gen3 Gas Phase System Development and Demonstration (Final Technical Report)

Work undertaken in this project seeks to transform the current baseline technology – which is a collection of related but separately developed components and concepts – into a unified and operating test facility and an accompanying preliminary commercial design. This project is motivated by the primary goal of developing a system to absorb concentrated solar energy and deliver it into thermal energy storage at temperatures above 700°C, thereby enabling integration with a high-efficiency supercritical carbon dioxide (sCO 2 ) power cycle to achieve or exceed a levelized cost of electricity (LCOE) target of 6 ¢ per kilowatt-hour electric (kW e -hr). The proposed baseline solution utilizes a high-temperature gas phase (GP) system interfacing with a two-tank particle thermal energy storage (TES) and intermediate heat exchangers to supply sCO 2 at 20-25 megapascals (MPa) and 700°C at the turbine inlet.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗

A One-dimensional Heat Transfer Model for a Cooled Airfoil in a Direct-fired Supercritical CO 2 Turbine

A one-dimensional (1-D) heat transfer model was developed to predict the performance of a cooled airfoil for a supercritical carbon dioxide (sCO 2 ) turbine. The model included the effects of film cooling effectiveness, thermal barrier coating thickness, and internal Nusselt number augmentation. Trends for overall cooling effectiveness versus heat load parameter were obtained for over twelve unique thermal management schemes. The study found that adding a thermal barrier coating was the most effective scheme for increasing the airfoil overall cooling effectiveness. Internal cooling technologies have diminishing returns as the heat transfer coefficient augmentation increases past a factor of five, however the sensitivity of overall cooling effectiveness to heat transfer augmentation scales by a factor of 1.3 when a thermal barrier coating is introduced. Film cooling is seen as a long-term research area which will be inevitably explored as direct sCO 2 systems develop a market presence. However, the model indicates that realizable film cooling effectiveness levels yield a smaller improvement in overall cooling effectiveness than a thermal barrier coating.

42 ENGINEERING↗

A Review of the Research and Development of Brayton Cycle Technology in Nuclear Power Applications with a Focus on Compressor Technology

This study reviews the integration of Brayton Cycle (BC) systems in nuclear power generation, emphasizing their potential to enhance thermal efficiency and operational flexibility over traditional Rankine Cycle (RC) systems. Key working fluids, such as helium (He), supercritical carbon dioxide (sCO 2 ), nitrogen (N 2 ), and air, are evaluated for their performance, efficiency, and compatibility with nuclear systems. He is recognized for its high thermal conductivity and inertness at elevated temperatures, while sCO 2 demonstrates advantages in compactness and efficiency in midrange temperatures. This article also highlights the importance of compressor designs in optimizing BC performance and reviews, available compressor technologies. Axial and centrifugal compressor designs enable efficient gas compression while managing the thermal and mechanical stresses associated with high-pressure operations in nuclear systems. Combined with variable geometry components and advanced materials, these technologies address the challenges posed by varying load conditions. Despite the promising features of BC systems, several challenges persist, including high leakage rates and material degradation under extreme conditions, which necessitate robust sealing technologies and thorough testing. The insights gained from operational experiences at facilities, such as the Oberhausen II plant and the High-Temperature He Test Facility (HHV), underscore the complexities involved in designing high-temperature gas turbines for nuclear applications. This review concludes that as the nuclear industry evolves, BC systems hold significant promise for contributing to a sustainable energy future, particularly in the context of small modular reactors (SMRs) and microreactors. Further exploration of combined cycle configurations that combine BCs with RCs may enhance overall efficiency and flexibility in power generation.

22 - GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS↗

Peeking Between the Pulses: The Far-UV Spectrum of the Previously Unseen White Dwarf in AR Scorpii

The compact object in the interacting binary AR Sco has widely been presumed to be a rapidly rotating, magnetized white dwarf (WD), but it has never been detected directly. Isolating its spectrum has proven difficult because the spin-down of the WD generates pulsed synchrotron radiation that far outshines the WD's photosphere. As a result, a previous study of AR Sco was unable to detect the WD in the averaged far-ultraviolet spectrum from a Hubble Space Telescope (HST) observation. In an effort to unveil the WD's spectrum, we reanalyze these HST observations by calculating the average spectrum in the troughs between synchrotron pulses. We identify weak spectral features from the previously unseen WD and estimate its surface temperature to be 11,500 ± 500 K. Additionally, during the synchrotron pulses, we detect broad Lyα absorption consistent with hot WD spectral models. We infer the presence of a pair of hotspots, with temperatures between 23,000 and 28,000 K, near the magnetic poles of the WD. As the WD is not expected to be accreting from its companion, we describe two possible mechanisms for heating the magnetic poles. Here, the Lyα absorption of the hotspots appears relatively undistorted by Zeeman splitting, constraining the WD's field strength to be ≲100 MG, but the data are insufficient to search for the subtle Zeeman splits expected at lower field strengths.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

Fundamentals of SrCoO 3-δ Based Oxygen Deficient Perovskites as Cathodes for Solid Oxide Fuel Cells

The local structure and oxygen stoichiometry in oxide systems have a profound impact on oxygen electrocatalysis encountered in metal-air batteries and solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs). However, this knowledge is often obtained under conditions different from the real working conditions of the material, resulting in misinterpretation and misunderstanding. This PhD dissertation aims to obtain the structure and oxygen-stoichiometry information of a class of perovskite oxides under their real working conditions in solid oxide fuel cells. Several perovskite oxides were selected for the study: Sr 0.9 Y 0.1 CoO 3-δ (SYC10), Sr 0.9 Y 0.3 CoO 3-δ (SYC30), SrCo 0.9 Nb 0.1 O 3-δ (SCN10) and SrCo 0.9 Ta0.1O 3-δ (SCT10). The local crystal structure and oxygen stoichiometry of these materials were systematically characterized with in-situ neutron diffraction (ND). The oxygen stoichiometry was also measured by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and iodometric titration methods. To establish the correlation among structure, oxygen stoichiometry and oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) activity, high temperature electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, oxygen permeation and single cell testing were also performed. In chapter 2, SYC10 is described to have a more symmetrical structure and $V_o^{··}$ distribution, and higher $V_o^{··}$ concentration than SYC30. Molecular orbital energy analysis based on the local structure of the ORR-active Co1-polyhedra indicates SYC30 has a higher Fermi level relative to O-2p energy level in the active Co1-polyhedra, and thus a higher motional enthalpy for $V_o^{··}$ migration. However, the ORR activity of Y-doped SrCoO 3-δ (SCO) are found uncompetitive with other popular catalysts. In chapter 3 and 4, systematic structural studies are presented for Nb and Ta-doped SCO, namely SCN10 and SCT10, respectively. The methodology of unrevealing the structure-activity relationships in chapter 2 is also found applicable to SYC10, SCN10 and SCT10 as presented in chapter 5. The electrochemical tests indicate that SCT10 is the best catalyst due to its excellent thermal and electrochemical stability. In chapter 6, SCT10 is evaluated in a real solid oxide fuel cell in the form of nanoscaled SCT10 layer coating on the commercial (La 0.6 Sr 0.4 ) 0.95 Co 0.2 Fe 0.8 O 3-δ (LSCF). The bilayer structured cathode shows excellent properties of coarsening-resistant, Sr-segregation-free and high ORR-activity.

Yang, Tianrang↗

Degradation of Magnetic Materials for High-Temperature Active Magnetic Bearing Applications in CO₂-Based Environments

High-temperature Active Magnetic Bearings (AMBs) are a promising alternative to conventional bearings in hermetically sealed turbomachinery for supercritical CO₂ (sCO₂) systems. They offer reduced CO₂ leakage, lower windage losses, enhanced misalignment tolerance, reduced wear, and built-in diagnostic capabilities. A critical challenge, however, is ensuring long-term material stability in harsh CO₂-rich environments. This study investigated the degradation behavior of permanent and soft magnetic materials (Alnico 9C, Alnico 5-7C, SmCo 18-T550, Hiperco-50, and coated variants) after up to 6,000 hours of exposure in gaseous CO₂, sCO₂, or air at 450 °C and 550 °C. The evaluation included post-exposure mass change measurements, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis, and magnetic property assessments. The results demonstrate oxidation rates, microstructural evolution, and retention of magnetic performance across conditions. The findings offer essential insights into the thermal corrosion behavior of magnetic materials under CO₂ rich environments and serve as a reference for material selection in AMB system designs.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Exploring Material Solutions for Supercritical CO 2 Applications above 800 °C

There has been recent interest in exploring revolutionary supercritical CO 2 (sCO 2 ) power cycles, and this exploratory investigation was seeking materials with CO 2 compatibility at up to 1200 °C. Here, initial exposures were conducted at 0.1 and 2 MPa CO 2 for up to 1000 h at 900–1200 °C. As expected, specimens of Mo and W that might be used as matrix materials in cermets were rapidly attacked under these conditions. Even an alumina-forming FeCrAlMo alloy showed high mass gains in less than 100 h at 1200 °C due to the formation of Fe-rich oxide. However, at 900–1100 °C, more protective behavior was observed for FeCrAlMo specimens, with or without pre-oxidation, in 0.1 MPa CO 2 , but increased attack was observed in 2 MPa CO 2 . In contrast, most Ni-based alloys exposed at 900–1100 °C showed higher mass gains and thicker reaction products than formed in air. Thus, Ni-based alloys appear less compatible with CO 2 environments above 800 °C compared to lower temperatures. Low mass gains were observed for CVD SiC at 900–1200 °C, but MoSi 2 and Mo(Si,Al) 2 specimens did not form protective scales under these conditions at 1000 and 1100 °C.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Optimization-Inspired Pin-Fin Array for Supercritical Carbon Dioxide Recuperator

Additively manufactured heat exchangers are one possible route to cost-effective sCO 2 power cycles. In this paper, experimental results are obtained for two helical pin fin tubes that were designed following parametric optimization of the fin array. Neither the numerical optimization nor the experimental testing have been previously reported in the literature. The two tube designs were, (1) the optimization inspired design, and (2) the optimization-inspired design with a fin diameter increased by a factor of 2. To characterize the print, the designs were scanned using X-ray computed tomography to measure feature sizes and heat transfer area. The optimization was conducted in a commercial, computational fluid dynamics code. The code solved the Reynolds Averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) and energy equations with turbulence closure provided by the shear stress transport (SST) k-ω model. In the experiments, the Nusselt number augmentation was measured using the Wilson plot technique and the friction factor was determined with mass flow and pressure drop measurements. The experimental testing indicated that the optimization-inspired design had a friction factor that was four times less than the baseline tube design at equal Nusselt number. Additionally, the optimization-inspired design had a 14% improvement in Nusselt number, at equal friction factor, relative to the best performing computational fluid dynamics (CFD) trial points. Tube design (2), with the larger diameter pin fins, had similar performance, within experimental error, as the tube with the smaller diameter pin fins (1). Both tubes achieved overall fin array efficiencies near 1. A performance factor, V/V 0 , equal to the volume of the enhanced heat exchanger divided by the volume of the baseline (no-fins) heat exchanger, is recommended to quantify internal cooling performance. In conclusion, the experimental shell and tube heat exchanger, using the additively manufactured tube, is competitive with printed circuit heat exchangers in its pressure drop class and could be further improved by optimizing a shell-and-tube heat exchanger utilizing this heat transfer enhancement feature.

42 ENGINEERING↗