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Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

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All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2021

Ring Model Development and Validation for Prismatic HTGR Core Thermal-hydraulics and Safety Analysis

Because of the complex core geometry, prismatic high temperature gas-cooled reactors (prismatic HTGRs) often exhibit complex thermal fluid behaviors during both normal operating and transient conditions. Most HTGR designs rely on passive safety system for decay heat removal, such as the reactor cavity cooling system (RCCS). During postulated accidents like Pressurized Conduction Cooldown (PCC) event, the decay heat is first radially transferred from the core region to the reactor vessel outer surface, then to the RCCS cooling panels. The peak fuel temperature is controlled by heat transfer mechanisms with two distinctive characteristic length scales, i.e., the core-wise effective heat conduction and local heat conduction in the fuel pellet scale. As both length scales are essential to determine the fuel temperature, from the modeling perspective, computer codes must be able to capture heat transfer in both scales. This is challenging for both computational fluid dynamics (CFD) tools because of extremely large amount of computation resources required, and for system analysis codes because of the challenge to model the complex core geometry. Under the support of DOE-NE’s Nuclear Energy Advanced Modeling and Simulation (NEAMS) program, efforts have been pursued to support HTGR technology development and its modeling and simulation needs. There is a particular need for advanced modeling and simulation tools to predict thermal-fluid behavior during safety-related transients. In our previous studies, the ring model was adopted in SAM and further developed to simulate the normal operating condition and a PCC event using the MHTGR-350 design of General Atomics as the reference design. This current work represents a continuation of these previous efforts, and the focus is to critically review and examine simplifications and assumptions made to develop the ring model, and to perform code validation using experimental data from an integral-effect test facility, the High Temperature Test Facility (HTTF) at the Oregon State University. In this study, the test PG-27 from the HTTF test suite was selected for code validation purpose. The test PG-27 is a transient test designed to simulate the PCC event of the MHTGR design. Very good agreements between SAM prediction and experimental measurements were found in both coolant and solid structure temperatures during the transient.

21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS↗
DOE OSTI2024

Numerical Simulation and Experimental Comparison of System Analysis Module 1D Mixing Model for Cold Shock Transients in the Gallium Thermal-Hydraulic Mixing Facility

Abstract Liquid metals are being investigated as coolants in many advanced reactor designs because of their high thermal conductivity and effectiveness at high temperatures. However, they often pose challenges to reactor operation and safety because of the complex thermal mixing and stratification in the plenum of pool-type reactor designs. The advanced system analysis code System Analysis Module (SAM) currently under development at Argonne National Laboratory aims to develop and implement thermal mixing models to accurately capture these complex thermal fluid behaviors. In this study, the SAM thermal mixing model was compared against experimental data from the Gallium Thermal-Hydraulic Experiment facility, a scaled liquid metal test facility that uses gallium as a surrogate fluid to investigate the stratification and thermal mixing of low-Prandtl-number fluids in the upper plenum of a liquid metal-cooled reactor. Two cold shock transient cases were used: one with stable stratified flow (Ri = 32) and one with stronger thermal mixing (Ri = 0.5). The resultant temperatures were then compared with the experimental temperatures over the entire plenum to assess the ability of the mixing models to capture the thermal behavior and to better correspond mixing parameters to various flow scenarios. Generally, the zero-dimensional mixing model was more capable of capturing the bulk temperature of the component modeled assuming that an accurate mass flow rate was provided, but it was inherently unable to capture thermal gradients in space. The one-dimensional mixing model was capable of capturing that the thermal gradients provided accurate selection of the mixing coefficients. Further, the temperature at the outlet junction was compared over time for each of the mixing models with the recorded experimental temperature. The implemented mixing models demonstrated the ability to effectively capture the overall thermal behavior for stronger mixing scenarios but struggled with more stably stratified flows. It was found that a system analysis code's covering of the entire range of different operating conditions still remains a challenging task, and it is suggested that further model and closure improvements are necessary to accurately capture complex thermal mixing and stratification phenomena.

stratification↗
DOE OSTI2010

Next Generation Nuclear Plant Methods Technical Program Plan

One of the great challenges of designing and licensing the Very High Temperature Reactor (VHTR) is to confirm that the intended VHTR analysis tools can be used confidently to make decisions and to assure all that the reactor systems are safe and meet the performance objectives of the Generation IV Program. The research and development (R&D) projects defined in the Next Generation Nuclear Plant (NGNP) Design Methods Development and Validation Program will ensure that the tools used to perform the required calculations and analyses can be trusted. The Methods R&D tasks are designed to ensure that the calculational envelope of the tools used to analyze the VHTR reactor systems encompasses, or is larger than, the operational and transient envelope of the VHTR itself. The Methods R&D focuses on the development of tools to assess the neutronic and thermal fluid behavior of the plant. The fuel behavior and fission product transport models are discussed in the Advanced Gas Reactor (AGR) program plan. Various stress analysis and mechanical design tools will also need to be developed and validated and will ultimately also be included in the Methods R&D Program Plan. The calculational envelope of the neutronics and thermal-fluids software tools intended to be used on the NGNP is defined by the scenarios and phenomena that these tools can calculate with confidence. The software tools can only be used confidently when the results they produce have been shown to be in reasonable agreement with first-principle results, thought-problems, and data that describe the “highly ranked” phenomena inherent in all operational conditions and important accident scenarios for the VHTR.

21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS↗
DOE OSTI2010

Next Generation Nuclear Plant Methods Technical Program Plan

One of the great challenges of designing and licensing the Very High Temperature Reactor (VHTR) is to confirm that the intended VHTR analysis tools can be used confidently to make decisions and to assure all that the reactor systems are safe and meet the performance objectives of the Generation IV Program. The research and development (R&D) projects defined in the Next Generation Nuclear Plant (NGNP) Design Methods Development and Validation Program will ensure that the tools used to perform the required calculations and analyses can be trusted. The Methods R&D tasks are designed to ensure that the calculational envelope of the tools used to analyze the VHTR reactor systems encompasses, or is larger than, the operational and transient envelope of the VHTR itself. The Methods R&D focuses on the development of tools to assess the neutronic and thermal fluid behavior of the plant. The fuel behavior and fission product transport models are discussed in the Advanced Gas Reactor (AGR) program plan. Various stress analysis and mechanical design tools will also need to be developed and validated and will ultimately also be included in the Methods R&D Program Plan. The calculational envelope of the neutronics and thermal-fluids software tools intended to be used on the NGNP is defined by the scenarios and phenomena that these tools can calculate with confidence. The software tools can only be used confidently when the results they produce have been shown to be in reasonable agreement with first-principle results, thought-problems, and data that describe the “highly ranked” phenomena inherent in all operational conditions and important accident scenarios for the VHTR.

21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS↗
DOE OSTI2018

Modeling and Simulations of Thermal-Fluid Phenomena Related to Pressurized Conduction Cooldown in High Temperature Gas Reactor

Under the support of DOE-NE’s Nuclear Energy Advanced Modeling and Simulation (NEAMS) Program, an effort is being pursued to support High Temperature Gas Reactors (HTGR) technology development and its modeling and simulation needs. There is a particular need for advanced modeling & simulation tools to predict thermal-fluid behavior in the nuclear reactor primary system—especially the core and lower and upper plena—during safety-related transients.To help accomplish this, we must provide confidence in the reliability and accuracy of the thermal fluid simulation tools being developed under the NEAMS program for HTGR applications. The benchmark simulations of the available experimental tests would help us in this effort.

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS↗
DOE OSTI2020

Simulations of the High Temperature Test Facility using SAM

Under the support from the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Nuclear Energy’s Nuclear Energy Advanced Modeling and Simulation (NEAMS) program, an effort is being pursued to support the modeling and simulation needs of high-temperature gas-cooled reactor (HTGR) technology development. There is a particular need for advanced modeling and simulation methods and tools to predict thermal-fluid behavior in the nuclear reactor primary system during safety-related transients. This report focuses on one such activity related to HTGR: developing a model of the High Temperature Test Facility (HTTF) at Oregon State University using the system-level code SAM, and using the model to understand thermal response behavior in the facility. Note this activity is coordinated with the DOE-NE’s Advanced Reactor Technology Gas-Cooled Reactor Program

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS↗
DOE OSTI2022

Accurate and Efficient Parametric Model-Order Reduction for Turbulent Thermal Transport

This project produced new algorithms and software for low-cost exploration of turbulent thermal-fluids behavior under parametric variation by using reduced-order models (ROMs). The ROMs numerically solve the governing equations for fluid motion by using a small set of basis functions (typically, N=20-200 modes) to represent the solution. The base modes are computed as optimal combinations of solutions from expensive high-fidelity "anchor-point" solutions involving millions of unknowns, which are typically generated by solving the full Navier-Stokes equations on a supercomputer. The ROM solution is itself a combination of the base modes, where the basis coefficients are determined by evolving an NxN system of nonlinear equations. The overarching idea is to use the inexpensive ROM to predict solutions under conditions where the parameters differ from the anchor-point conditions. Several ingredients are required to make ROMs useful for thermal hydraulics analysis. These include: a stable and accurate ROM that is capable of reproducing the large-scale dynamics of turbulent flow, error indicators than can guide the choice of anchor points, and low-cost mechanisms for evaluating nonlinear terms in the reduced equations.

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS↗
DOE OSTI2023

Temporally continuous thermofluidic–thermomechanical modeling framework for metal additive manufacturing

Additive manufacturing (AM) is known to generate large magnitudes of residual stresses (RS) within builds due to steep and localized thermal gradients. In the current state of commercial AM technology, manufacturers generally perform heat treatments in effort to reduce the generated RS and its detrimental effects on part distortion and in-service failure. Computational models that effectively simulate the deposition process can provide valuable insights to improve RS distributions. Accordingly, it is common to employ Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) models or finite element (FE) models. While CFD can predict geometric and thermal-fluid behavior, it cannot predict the structural response (e.g., stress–strain) behavior. On the other hand, an FE model can predict mechanical behavior, but it lacks the ability to predict geometric and fluid behavior. Thus, an effectively integrated thermofluidic–thermomechanical modeling framework that exploits the benefits of both techniques while avoiding their respective limitations can offer valuable predictive capability for AM processes. In contrast to previously published efforts, the work herein describes a one-way coupled CFD-FEA framework that abandons major simplifying assumptions, such as geometric steady-state conditions, the absence of material plasticity, and the lack of detailed RS evolution/accumulation during deposition, as well as insufficient validation of results. Here, the presented framework is demonstrated for a directed energy deposition (DED) process, and experiments are performed to validate the predicted geometry and RS profile. Both single- and double-layer stainless steel 316L builds are considered. Geometric data is acquired via 3D optical surface scans and X-ray micro-computed tomography, and residual stress is measured using neutron diffraction (ND). Comparisons between the simulations and measurements reveal that the described CFD-FEA framework is effective in capturing the coupled thermomechanical and thermofluidic behaviors of the DED process. The methodology presented is extensible to other metal AM processes, including power bed fusion and wire-feed-based AM.

42 ENGINEERING↗
DOE OSTI2019

Multi-Scale Modeling of Thermal-Fluid Phenomena Related to Loss of Forced Circulation Transient in HTGRs

Under the support of DOE-NE’s Nuclear Energy Advanced Modeling and Simulation (NEAMS), an effort had been pursued to support High Temperature Gas-cooled Reactors (HTGR) technology development and its modeling and simulation needs. There was a particular need for advanced modeling & simulation tools to predict thermal-fluid behavior in the nuclear reactor primary system, especially the core and lower and upper plena, during safety-related transients. In this report, two main such activities were presented: 1) system level HTGR simulations using system analysis code SAM for both normal operating and accident conditions; and 2) three-dimensional (3D) computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations on Deteriorated Turbulent Heat Transfer (DTHT) of interest to HTGR transients, including code benchmark and closure correlation development. In this work, Modular High Temperature Gas-cooled Reactor (MHTGR) full loop simulations were performed using System Analysis Module (SAM) code. Two approaches were used to model the reactor core; (i) unit-cell or lumped parameter model, and (ii) detailed ring model, to address the different needs under different reactor conditions. Aside from the core model changes other reactor components in the primary system, such as upper/lower plenum, heat exchanger and blower etc, were kept the same. In the unit-cell core model, the lumped parameter approach was used to model the coolant channels and the heat structures using 1-D and 2-D components, respectively. The fuel assembly heat structure was modeled based on unit-cell thickness approximation. In normal and controlled operating conditions, the calculated maximum temperatures for both coolant and heat structures were within the designed limits. The unit-cell model is, however, not able to capture the radial heat conduction through fuel assemblies, which is the dominant heat transfer mechanism during accident transients, such as pressurized conduction cooldown (PCC) event. To address this modeling challenge, ring models were developed. A simplified ring model was developed first. In this simplified model, the active core was simulated with 9 circular rings consists of 6 rings for homogenized fuel heat structure and 3 rings for gas coolant. It was quickly found that this model gives rather large simulation error as it was not able to correctly capture the solid structure representative geometries. A detailed ring model was developed to address this issue. The active core was simulated with 99 circular rings consists of 66 rings for homogenized fuel heat structure and 33 rings for gas coolant. In both ring models, six additional rings were included to represent inner reflector, outer reflector, core barrel, Reactor Pressure Vessel (RPV), RPV coolant channel, and Reactive Cavity Cooling System (RCCS). The detailed ring model was applied in two different SAM simulations; (i) normal operating conditions, and (ii) accident scenarios (more specifically, PCC event), for MHTGR design. In both simulations, the SAM calculated results for coolant and heat structure temperatures were within the reactor designed limits. The newly proposed detailed ring model approach in this work has proved to be a promising method to address the challenging modeling and simulation needs in the MHTGR design. As demonstrated in this work, this model was suitable for MHTGR simulations under both normal and accident conditions. Apart from the SAM model development for gas-cooled reactors, 3D Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) models were developed and validated with relaminarized Deteriorated Turbulent Heat Transfer (DTHT) MIT benchmark test. Two different CFD codes, Nek5000 and STAR-CCM+, were used for this benchmark activity. Compared with MIT data, Nek5000 shows very good agreement between its simulated and experimentally measured wall temperatures. In contrast, STAR-CCM+ under-predicted wall temperature due to over predicted turbulence in the wall region. The Nek5000 code was also used to develop wall-heat transfer correlations for laminar flow in cylindrical tube. Several simulations were performed for various Reynolds flow and wall heat fluxes. Significant deviations were found when compared the predicted heat transfer coefficient and the Sieder-Tate correlation. A new set of heat transfer correlation was proposed for laminar flow which is valid for 400<Re<2000.

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS↗
DOE OSTI2020

3D CFD Model Validation Using Benchmark Data of 1/16th Scaled VHTR Upper Plenum and Development of Wall Heat-Transfer Correlation For Laminar Flow

With support from the U.S. Department of Energy-Office of Nuclear Energy’s (DOE-NE’s) Nuclear Energy Advanced Modeling and Simulation (NEAMS) program, an effort has been pursued to support high-temperature gas-cooled reactor (HTGR) technology development and its modeling and simulation needs. There is a particular need for advanced modeling and simulation tools to predict thermal-fluid behavior in the nuclear reactor primary system, especially in the core and the lower and upper plena, during safety-related transients. In this report, two main such activities are presented relevant to the HTGRs: (1) three-dimensional (3D) computational fluid dynamics (CFD) validation using benchmark data from the upper plenum of Texas A&M University’s 1/16th scaled very-high-temperature gas-cooled reactor (VHTR), and (2) development of wall heat-transfer correlation for laminar flow in a wall-heated pipe. The CFD tool validation exercises can be helpful to choose the models and CFD tools to simulate and design specific components of the HTRGs such as upper plenum where jet mixing is a complex phenomenon. In a loss of forced circulation event, the laminar flow can be observed during the development of natural circulation flow. This work includes the development and validation of heat transfer correlations for laminar flow using the Nek5000 CFD code due to limited available experimental data for laminar flow conditions to guide low-order models (1D). In this report, the flow characteristics of a single isothermal jet discharging into the upper plenum was investigated using the Nek5000 Large-Eddy Simulation (LES) CFD tool. Several numerical simulations were performed for various jet-discharged Reynolds numbers ranging from 3,413 to 12,819. A grid-independent study was performed. The numerical results of mean velocity, root-mean-square fluctuating velocity, and Reynolds stress were compared against the benchmark data. Good agreement was obtained between simulated and measured data for axial mean velocities, except near the upper plenum hemisphere. The maximum predicted errors for axial mean velocities at various normalized coolant channel diameter heights of 1, 5, and 10 are 1.56%, 1.88%, and 3.82%, respectively. In addition, the predicted root-mean-square fluctuating velocity and Reynolds stress are qualitatively in agreement with the experimental data. The Nek5000 code was used to develop wall-heat transfer correlation for laminar flow in a cylindrical tube. Several simulations were performed for various Reynolds flow and wall-heat fluxes. A new heat transfer correlation was developed using data from Nek5000 simulation results and regression functions in Matlab. The developed heat transfer correlation is valid for various Reynolds flows from 200 to 2000. The predicted R² value for model fit was 0.875, which ensures that 87.5% of the model data lies on the Nek5000 data. Moreover, a machine learning (ML) tool was used to train and test the Nek5000 data. A good fit of the ML-based model was observed with the test data.

21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS↗
NASA NTRS1990

Investigation of micro-gravity effects on heat pipe thermal performance and working fluid behavior, phase B

The purpose of this experiment is to develop an in-depth understanding of the behavior of heat pipes in space. Both fixed conductance heat pipes (FCHPs) with axial grooves and variable conductance heat pipes (VCHPs) with porous wicks will be investigated. This understanding will be applied to the development of improved performance heat pipes subjected to various accelerations in space, including those encountered on a lunar base or Mars mission. More efficient, reliable, and lighter weight spacecraft thermal control systems should result from these investigations.

Gier, K. D.↗
DOE OSTI2018

Design Optimization Study on the Single Tank Packed-bed Thermal Energy Storage System

Idaho National Laboratory (INL) is establishing the Dynamic Energy Transport and Integration Lab (DETAIL) as part of its commitment to research on nuclear-renewable hybrid energy systems and associated advanced reactor technologies. DETAIL is designed to allow several different energy systems to work in unison. Current plans include a PWR simulator, high-temperature steam electrolysis (HSTE) unit, and a renewable energy system (e.g., photovoltaics). DETAIL will provide the real world basis for studies on the systems integration and system configurations to be completed. Encompassed in the DETAIL program is the Thermal Energy Storage (TES) system. The TES system is one of the key components in DETAIL because it allows for the delayed release of energy and can be used to simulate storage capabilities currently being considered by utility providers. Of the various TES concepts, this paper deals with the single-tank packed bed TES system. Particular attention is given to the transient thermal behavior of fluid and solid particles within the packed bed thermocline tank and heat storage efficiency influenced by various design parameters. The effects of tank geometry (height-to-diameter ratio), filler size, filler packing ratio and operating temperature differentials are investigated. Based on the parametric study and cost analysis, the optimal TES tank design for DETAIL is discussed.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗
DOE OSTI2020

LANL's Contribution to the Design and Preparation of the ANL Bubble Experiment #2

In collaboration with Argonne National Laboratory (ANL), Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) is assisting in the design and development of portions of the second ANL Bubble Experiment to be performed in late 2020 at ANL. The ANL Bubble Experiment, as called in this report, is a series of direct electron irradiations of a uranyl sulfate solution to produce radiolysis-induced gas bubbles of hydrogen and oxygen. The gas bubbles formed in the solution enhance mixing and heat transfer. The study of the dynamics, shape, and size of radiolysis-induced gas bubbles is of great importance to understand and characterize the thermal and fluid behavior of the solution, especially for the solution based, neutron-induced fission production technique for Mo-99. During the first experiment performed in 2014, ANL’s 35 MeV electron linear accelerator provided average powers of 6, 12, and 15 kW using a rastered beam to homogeneously heat the 15 x 15 x 80-cm uranyl-sulfate solution. Gas bubble size, shape, velocity, solution temperature, and hydrogen and oxygen concentrations were recorded during the irradiations. The details of the experimental setup and results for the first experiment are described in the ANL reports, Design and Construction of Experiment for Direct Electron Irradiation of a Uranyl Sulfate Solution: Bubble Formation and Thermal Hydraulics Studies and Experimental Results for Direct Electron Irradiation of a Uranyl Sulfate Solution: Bubble Formation and Thermal Hydraulics Studies. The purpose of this report is to describe the issues and lessons learned associated with the first experiment and elaborate on designs to improve and obtain more accurate experimental results for the upcoming experiment.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
NASA NTRS1980

LeRC reduced gravity fluid management technology program

The program reviewed in the present paper has provided information of the reduced-gravity behavior of fluids, thermal control of cryogenic tankage, and fluid management system design. The studies are currently shifting from the utilization of in-house experimental facilities to the development of Spacelab experiments. The cryogenic fluid management experiment, currently undergoing detailed design, is expected to provide an orbital evaluation of a subcritical liquid hydrogen storage and supply system, as part of the Shuttle/Spacelab program. Efforts are continuing to develop computer techniques for simulating reduced-gravity fluid dynamic processes.

Aydelott, J. C.↗
NASA NTRS1980

LeRC reduced gravity fluid management technology program

A survey of the reduced gravity fluid management technology program is presented. Information on reduced gravity fluid behavior, techniques for thermal control of cryogenic tankage, and design for fluid management systems are discussed. The development of Spacelab experiments, propellant management systems for orbit transfer vehicles, and computer techniques for simulating reduced gravity fluid dynamic processes is reported.

Aydelott, J. C.↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

High-Fidelity Modeling Approach for Coupling Thermal, Fluid, and Neutronic Analysis in an NTP Engine

Nuclear thermal propulsion (NTP), with its increased efficiency compared to traditional rocket engines, is a potentially enabling technology for space missions of higher complexity, such as delivering heavy machinery or crew to the moon or other planets. Thus, exploring modeling approaches that can effectively couple the thermal, fluid, and neutronic behaviors of NTP reactors is essential to mitigate cost and schedule challenges with hardware development. This paper details one such approach which utilizes Cardinal to unify reactor physics analysis performed using OpenMC, heat transfer analysis performed using the MOOSE framework, and thermal hydraulic analysis performed using the MOOSE Thermal Hydraulic Module. This approach is demonstrated with a proof of concept that focuses on a legacy reactor geometry from the historic NERVA program. This preliminary model found an overprediction in, when compared to the reference data, axial power peaking and the temperatures of both solids and fluids by roughly 20%. It is clear, however, that the model conserved a number of broad trends, and a few model refinements should reduce the observed error. This approach has definite merit and should enable the production of informative results for more modern NTP systems. This work is a first step in creating a transient reactor model that can be updated across a sequence of time steps based on continually fluctuating, time-dependent boundary conditions.

Nuclear Thermal Propulsion↗
DOE OSTI2016

Effect of viscous dissipation and radiation in an annular cone

The viscous dissipation is an effect due to which heat is generated inside the medium. The presence of radiation further complicates the heat transfer behavior inside porous medium. The present paper discusses the combined effect of viscous dissipation and radiation inside a porous medium confined in an annular cone with inner radius r{sub i}. The viscous dissipation and radiation terms are included in the energy equation thereby solving the coupled momentum and energy equations with the help of finite element method. The results are presented in terms of isothermal and streamline indicating the thermal and fluid flow behavior of porous medium. It is found that the combination of viscous dissipation and radiation parameter and the cone angle has significant effect on the heat transfer and fluid flow behavior inside the porous medium. The fluid velocity is found to increase with the increase in Raleigh number.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗