Computational fluid dynamic investigations of partial blockage detection by core-temperature monitoring system of a sodium cooled fast reactor

Thermal hydraulic studies have been carried out to understand temperature dilution suffered by core-temperature monitoring system of a sodium cooled fast reactor. The three-dimensional computational model is validated against experimental results of a water model. Jet mixing phenomenon as predicted by different turbulence models is compared and RNG k–? model is found to be better than other models. A comprehensive parametric study considering: (i) effects of construction/manufacturing tolerances on thermocouple positions with respect to subassembly positions, (ii) thermal/irradiation bowing of subassemblies, and (iii) changes in core power profile during reactor operation cycles has been carried out. The studies indicate the maximum possible dilution in fuel and blanket subassemblies to be 2.63 K and 46.84 K, respectively. Shifting of thermocouple positions radially outward by 20 mm with respect to subassembly centers leads to an overall improvement in accuracy of thermocouple readings. It is also seen that subassembly blockage that leads to 7% flow reduction in fuel subassembly and 12% flow reduction in blanket subassembly can be detected effectively by the core-temperature monitoring system.     

Methanogenesis of black liquor in a two‐stage biphasic reactor system using an immobilized cell system

The methanogenesis of black liquor from pulp and paper mill was achieved using immobilized cell technology in a laboratory‐scale two‐stage reactor system run continuously for 340 days. The optimum organic loading rate for the anaerobic treatment of black liquor was 8.0 kgm^?3d^?1 at which the % COD removal, biogas production and methane content were 55%, 11 dm³d^?1 and 71%, respectively. Organic loading rates above 8.0 kgm^?3d^?1 were observed to be toxic to the methanogenic bacteria and resulted in decreased methane content, biogas and COD removal. The applicability of the system to the large‐scale processing and treatment of paper mill liquid waste is discussed. © 2001 Society of Chemical Industry     

蜡油加氢精制-临氢降凝双反应器串联工艺试验

采用加氢精制-临氢降凝双反应器串联工艺,以某炼油厂蜡油为原料生产润滑油基础油。结果表明,主要产品为高黏度的润滑油馏分,其凝点降到-10℃以下,副产少量轻柴油、粗汽油及石油液化气;该工艺具有流程简单、精制降凝效果好、润滑油收率高等特点。     

Numerical analyses on liquid-metal magnetohydrodynamic flow in sudden channel expansion

Three-dimensional numerical calculations have been performed on the magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) flows through a rectangular channel with sudden expansion, particularly in order to estimate the pressure drop through the sudden expansion. The sudden expansion is in the directions both perpendicular and parallel to the applied magnetic field. The Hartmann number, the Reynolds number and the magnetic Reynolds number are set to ～100, ～1000 and ～0.001, respectively, in simulating laboratory conditions. The continuity equation, the momentum equation and the induction equation were solved numerically by the finite difference method as discretization following the MAC method as solution procedure. On the whole, in the sudden expansion in the direction perpendicular to applied magnetic field, the loss coefficient is estimated to be nearly zero or small. In particular, the loss coefficient becomes negative for small aspect ratios. The reason of negative loss coefficient is attributable to decrease in the induced current just upstream of the expansion. On the other hand, in the sudden expansion in the direction of applied magnetic field, all the cases give positive and large loss coefficients, meaning that the pressure drop through the expansion becomes large. In particular, the loss coefficient becomes considerably large when the Hartmann number increases.     

内置横向插板加强型管节点静力强度研究

主管内设置横向插板是改善焊接圆钢管结构承载能力的一种方法。为了研究横向内置插板对节点静力强度的影响，采用有限元方法，对62个加强与未加强的T形节点模型进行了有限元模拟和分析。调查了节点区域和内置横向插板在静力加载过程中的变形过程。通过对模型参数的研究发现：内置横向插板能够提高T形节点的静力强度，但当T形节点承受轴向压力作用时，静力强度的提高对插板长度和厚度的变化不敏感。插板的厚度可按照构造措施选取，长度不能小于支管的直径。     

ENERGY DISSIPATION DISTRIBUTION AND MIXING IN A TORUS REACTOR

Previous works devoted to the development of the swirl flow generated by rotation of the marine screw impeller in the loop toroidal reactor show that the flow structure is characterized by the existence of a secondary flow. The deformation of the axial velocity profile, due to the bends curvature and the rotation of the agitator, modify considerably the friction and the transfer near the wall. The objective of this work is to study the toroidal flow and to characterize the wall turbulence. The wall shear stress distribution in the torus were performed by using an electrochemical method. The measurements of the wall shear stress were carried out in the inner and outer walls. The evolution of the wall velocity gradient with the longitudinal distance depends on the location in the torus. These results allow to obtain information about the friction factor, which is compared with the one measured directly by using piezometric connections. The experimental determination of the axial dispersion coefficient is obtained by using the dispersion plug flow model with a total recirculation. Finally, a relationship between the turbulent characteristics and the mixing parameters has been established.     

Modeling of the sheet‐molding process for poly(methyl methacrylate)

The sheet‐molding process for the production of poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) involves an isothermal batch reactor followed by polymerization in a mold (the latter is referred to as a “sheet reactor”). The temperature at the outer walls of the mold varies with time. In addition, due to finite rates of heat transfer in the viscous reaction mass, spatial temperature gradients are present inside the mold. Further, the volume of the reaction mass also decreases with polymerization. These several physicochemical phenomena are incorporated into the model developed for this process. It was found that the monomer conversion attains high values of near‐unity in most of the inner region in the mold. This is because of the high temperatures there, since the heat generated due to the exothermicity of the polymerization cannot be removed fast enough. However, the temperature of the mold walls has to be increased in the later stages of polymerization so that the material near the outer edges can also attain high conversions of about 98%. This would give PMMA sheets having excellent mechanical strength. The effects of important operating (decision) variables were studied and it was observed that the heat‐transfer resistance in the mold influences the spatial distribution of the temperature, which, in turn, influences the various properties (e.g., monomer conversion, number‐average molecular weight, and polydispersity index) of the product significantly. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 81: 1951–1971, 2001     

Y型圆钢管平面内转动刚度分析

通过建立Y型圆钢管节点有限元模型,对Y型圆钢管相贯节点转动刚度进行单参数分析,同时对整个节点转动刚度进行回归分析,得出Y型圆钢管转动刚度的计算公式。     

Numerical study on microstructured reactor with chaotic heat and mass transfer and its potential application for exothermic process

Design of microstructured reactors with thermal control function is investigated through numerical simulation. It consists of one middle channel for handling chemicals and two other channels attached to its top and bottom for cooling purpose. Three designs are examined. Reactor A uses simple straight channels. In reactor B, chaotic flow is applied to the middle channel, and in reactor C chaotic flow is applied to all the three channels. Results show that in comparison with the straight channel, the Nusselt number in current design is greatly improved through chaotic flow. Rapid mixing is also achieved. Potential application of the design for continuous exothermic process is analyzed. For reactor A, it is not workable as the temperature of the chemical solution continuously increases over the channel. In comparison, for both reactors B and C the temperature can be well controlled within the required range. As the coolant flow in reactor C is also chaotic, it provides a higher heat removal capacity.     

Demonstration Experiment of 3 BN-600 MOX Vibropac FAs Irradiation for the Excess Weapons Plutonium Disposal

The paper presents results of a demonstration experiment on conversion of 50 kg of weapon-grade plutonium in the form of metal ingots into granulated MOX-fuel to be used for manufacturing fuel pins and 3 fuel assemblies (FAs) for the fast power-generating reactor BN-600, irradiation parameters of these FAs and the data from post-irradiation examinations. It can be concluded from the PIE results that the 3FAs were successfully irradiated in BN-600 without any fuel pin failures. Therefore, disposition of weapongrade plutonium with a weight of about 20 kg was successfully done. This represents the first disposition of Russian surplus weapon-grade plutonium as an international cooperation (this experiment was performed in collaboration between RIAR and JNC). The possibility of using MOX vipac fuel as a method for weapon plutonium disposition is clearly shown.