Full-Core Coupled Neutronic, Thermal-Hydraulic, and Thermo-Mechanical Analysis of Low-Enriched Uranium Nuclear Thermal Propulsion Reactors.
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| Title: | Full-Core Coupled Neutronic, Thermal-Hydraulic, and Thermo-Mechanical Analysis of Low-Enriched Uranium Nuclear Thermal Propulsion Reactors. |
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| Authors: | Krecicki, Matt1 (AUTHOR), Kotlyar, Dan1 (AUTHOR) dan.kotlyar@me.gatech.edu |
| Source: | Energies (19961073). Oct2022, Vol. 15 Issue 19, p7007. 25p. |
| Subjects: | Geothermal reactors, Strains & stresses (Mechanics), Thermal stresses, Nuclear reactor cores, Chemical systems, Nuclear reactors |
| Abstract: | Nuclear thermal propulsion is an enabling technology for future space missions, such as crew-operated Mars missions. Nuclear thermal propulsion technology provides a performance benefit over chemical propulsion systems by operating with light propellants (e.g., hydrogen) at elevated engine chamber conditions. Therefore, nuclear thermal propulsion reactor cores exhibit high propellant velocities and elevated propellant and fuel temperatures, subsequently leading to relatively high thermal stresses and geometrical deformation. This paper details the numerical approach to solve the thermo-elastic equations, which was implemented into the recently developed ntpThermo code. In addition, this paper demonstrates the extension of the Basilisk multiphysics framework to perform full-core coupled neutronic, thermal-hydraulic, and thermo-mechanical analysis of nuclear thermal propulsion reactors. The analyses demonstrate and quantify thermo-mechanical feedback, which for the investigated cases, acted to reduce maximum fuel temperatures and pressure drop across the fuel element channels. Thermo-mechanical feedback had a significant impact on the mass flow distribution within the reactor core and, thus, a substantial impact on solid-material temperatures and stresses, but only a minor impact on reactivity and local power distributions. Sensitivity studies revealed that the friction factor correlation applied to perform the analysis has a significant impact on the pressure drop across the fuel element channels. The most important observation of this research is the importance of incorporating the thermo-mechanical feedback within an integrated multiphysics solution sequence to enable the consistent design of future nuclear thermal propulsion systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
| Copyright of Energies (19961073) is the property of MDPI and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.) | |
| Database: | Engineering Source |
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| Header | DbId: egs DbLabel: Engineering Source An: 159668980 AccessLevel: 6 PubType: Academic Journal PubTypeId: academicJournal PreciseRelevancyScore: 0 |
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| Items | – Name: Title Label: Title Group: Ti Data: Full-Core Coupled Neutronic, Thermal-Hydraulic, and Thermo-Mechanical Analysis of Low-Enriched Uranium Nuclear Thermal Propulsion Reactors. – Name: Author Label: Authors Group: Au Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Krecicki%2C+Matt%22">Krecicki, Matt</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Kotlyar%2C+Dan%22">Kotlyar, Dan</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<i> dan.kotlyar@me.gatech.edu</i> – Name: TitleSource Label: Source Group: Src Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Energies+%2819961073%29%22">Energies (19961073)</searchLink>. Oct2022, Vol. 15 Issue 19, p7007. 25p. – Name: Subject Label: Subjects Group: Su Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Geothermal+reactors%22">Geothermal reactors</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Strains+%26+stresses+%28Mechanics%29%22">Strains & stresses (Mechanics)</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Thermal+stresses%22">Thermal stresses</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Nuclear+reactor+cores%22">Nuclear reactor cores</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Chemical+systems%22">Chemical systems</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Nuclear+reactors%22">Nuclear reactors</searchLink> – Name: Abstract Label: Abstract Group: Ab Data: Nuclear thermal propulsion is an enabling technology for future space missions, such as crew-operated Mars missions. Nuclear thermal propulsion technology provides a performance benefit over chemical propulsion systems by operating with light propellants (e.g., hydrogen) at elevated engine chamber conditions. Therefore, nuclear thermal propulsion reactor cores exhibit high propellant velocities and elevated propellant and fuel temperatures, subsequently leading to relatively high thermal stresses and geometrical deformation. This paper details the numerical approach to solve the thermo-elastic equations, which was implemented into the recently developed ntpThermo code. In addition, this paper demonstrates the extension of the Basilisk multiphysics framework to perform full-core coupled neutronic, thermal-hydraulic, and thermo-mechanical analysis of nuclear thermal propulsion reactors. The analyses demonstrate and quantify thermo-mechanical feedback, which for the investigated cases, acted to reduce maximum fuel temperatures and pressure drop across the fuel element channels. Thermo-mechanical feedback had a significant impact on the mass flow distribution within the reactor core and, thus, a substantial impact on solid-material temperatures and stresses, but only a minor impact on reactivity and local power distributions. Sensitivity studies revealed that the friction factor correlation applied to perform the analysis has a significant impact on the pressure drop across the fuel element channels. The most important observation of this research is the importance of incorporating the thermo-mechanical feedback within an integrated multiphysics solution sequence to enable the consistent design of future nuclear thermal propulsion systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] – Name: AbstractSuppliedCopyright Label: Group: Ab Data: <i>Copyright of Energies (19961073) is the property of MDPI and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.) |
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| RecordInfo | BibRecord: BibEntity: Identifiers: – Type: doi Value: 10.3390/en15197007 Languages: – Code: eng Text: English PhysicalDescription: Pagination: PageCount: 25 StartPage: 7007 Subjects: – SubjectFull: Geothermal reactors Type: general – SubjectFull: Strains & stresses (Mechanics) Type: general – SubjectFull: Thermal stresses Type: general – SubjectFull: Nuclear reactor cores Type: general – SubjectFull: Chemical systems Type: general – SubjectFull: Nuclear reactors Type: general Titles: – TitleFull: Full-Core Coupled Neutronic, Thermal-Hydraulic, and Thermo-Mechanical Analysis of Low-Enriched Uranium Nuclear Thermal Propulsion Reactors. Type: main BibRelationships: HasContributorRelationships: – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Krecicki, Matt – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Kotlyar, Dan IsPartOfRelationships: – BibEntity: Dates: – D: 01 M: 10 Text: Oct2022 Type: published Y: 2022 Identifiers: – Type: issn-print Value: 19961073 Numbering: – Type: volume Value: 15 – Type: issue Value: 19 Titles: – TitleFull: Energies (19961073) Type: main |
| ResultId | 1 |
