scholarly journals Optimized High-Temperature Irradiation-Resistant Thermocouple for Fast-Response Measurements

2021 ◽  
Vol 253 ◽  
pp. 06004
Author(s):  
Richard Skifton ◽  
Joe Palmer ◽  
Alex Hashemian

The high-temperature irradiation-resistant thermocouple is the only temperature probe proven to withstand the high-temperature (>1290°C), high-radiation (a fluence of up to ∼1 × 1021 n/cm2) environments of nuclear reactor fuel design testing and/or over-temperature accident conditions. This report describes the improved performance of a molybdenum and niobium thermocouple by utilizing a coaxial design (i.e., a single wire grounded to the outer sheath). This optimized high-temperature irradiation-resistant thermocouple features a simplified design yet allows for more robust individual components. The niobium and molybdenum thermoelements can be used interchangeably in either the sheath or wire, depending on the intended application. Via a plunge test in flowing water, the response time of the coaxial build of the high-temperature irradiation-resistant thermocouple was determined to be 30x faster than that of the comparable ungrounded type-K thermocouples, and 10x faster than the grounded type-K thermocouples and traditional ungrounded high-temperature irradiation-resistant thermocouples (i.e., two-wire configurations). Furthermore, by capitalizing on the coaxial design, a multi-core high-temperature irradiation-resistant probe with multiple “single-pole” wires along the length of the sheath was proven feasible. This multi-core, thermocouple design was dubbed a “demicouple.” The high-temperature irradiation-resistant demicouple is primarily applied during fuel experiments to record multiple fuel-pin centerline temperature measurements using a single compact sensor. Furthermore, the shared “common” leg between demicouple junctions reduces error propagation in secondary measurements such as temperature differentials.

Alloy Digest ◽  
1987 ◽  
Vol 36 (12) ◽  

Abstract UHB QRO 80 MICRODIZED is a chromium-molybdenum-vanadium tool steel with improved performance for tooling used at elevated temperature as in forging, extrusion and die casting. It is electro-slag refined. This datasheet provides information on composition, physical properties, hardness, elasticity, and tensile properties as well as fracture toughness. It also includes information on high temperature performance as well as forming, heat treating, machining, and joining. Filing Code: TS-486. Producer or source: Uddeholm Aktiebolag.


Author(s):  
Michele Scervini ◽  
Catherine Rae

A new Nickel based thermocouple for high temperature applications in gas turbines has been devised at the Department of Material Science and Metallurgy of the University of Cambridge. This paper describes the new features of the thermocouple, the drift tests on the first prototype and compares the behaviour of the new sensor with conventional mineral insulated metal sheathed Type K thermocouples: the new thermocouple has a significant improvement in terms of drift and temperature capabilities. Metallurgical analysis has been undertaken on selected sections of the thermocouples exposed at high temperatures which rationalises the reduced drift of the new sensor. A second prototype will be tested in follow-on research, from which further improvements in drift and temperature capabilities are expected.


2014 ◽  
Vol 5 (17) ◽  
pp. 4939-4947 ◽  
Author(s):  
Na Zhang ◽  
Chengji Zhao ◽  
Wenjia Ma ◽  
Shuang Wang ◽  
Baolong Wang ◽  
...  

The phosphoric acid doped quaternary ammonium poly(ether ether ketone) membranes cross-linked with PBI showed improved performance.


Author(s):  
Robert A. Leishear

Water hammers, or fluid transients, compress flammable gasses to their autognition temperatures in piping systems to cause fires or explosions. While this statement may be true for many industrial systems, the focus of this research are reactor coolant water systems (RCW) in nuclear power plants, which generate flammable gasses during normal operations and during accident conditions, such as loss of coolant accidents (LOCA’s) or reactor meltdowns. When combustion occurs, the gas will either burn (deflagrate) or explode, depending on the system geometry and the quantity of the flammable gas and oxygen. If there is sufficient oxygen inside the pipe during the compression process, an explosion can ignite immediately. If there is insufficient oxygen to initiate combustion inside the pipe, the flammable gas can only ignite if released to air, an oxygen rich environment. This presentation considers the fundamentals of gas compression and causes of ignition in nuclear reactor systems. In addition to these ignition mechanisms, specific applications are briefly considered. Those applications include a hydrogen fire following the Three Mile Island meltdown, hydrogen explosions following Fukushima Daiichi explosions, and on-going fires and explosions in U.S nuclear power plants. Novel conclusions are presented here as follows. 1. A hydrogen fire was ignited by water hammer at Three Mile Island. 2. Hydrogen explosions were ignited by water hammer at Fukushima Daiichi. 3. Piping damages in U.S. commercial nuclear reactor systems have occurred since reactors were first built. These damages were not caused by water hammer alone, but were caused by water hammer compression of flammable hydrogen and resultant deflagration or detonation inside of the piping.


Author(s):  
Charles Forsberg

A combined-cycle power plant is proposed that uses heat from a high-temperature nuclear reactor and hydrogen produced by the high-temperature reactor to meet base-load and peak-load electrical demands. For base-load electricity production, air is compressed; flows through a heat exchanger, where it is heated to between 700 and 900°C; and exits through a high-temperature gas turbine to produce electricity. The heat, via an intermediate heat-transport loop, is provided by a high-temperature reactor. The hot exhaust from the Brayton-cycle turbine is then fed to a heat recovery steam generator that provides steam to a steam turbine for added electrical power production. To meet peak electricity demand, after nuclear heating of the compressed air, hydrogen is injected into the combustion chamber, combusts, and heats the air to 1300°C—the operating conditions for a standard natural-gas-fired combined-cycle plant. This process increases the plant efficiency and power output. Hydrogen is produced at night by electrolysis or other methods using energy from the nuclear reactor and is stored until needed. Therefore, the electricity output to the electric grid can vary from zero (i.e., when hydrogen is being produced) to the maximum peak power while the nuclear reactor operates at constant load. Because nuclear heat raises air temperatures above the auto-ignition temperatures of the hydrogen and powers the air compressor, the power output can be varied rapidly (compared with the capabilities of fossil-fired turbines) to meet spinning reserve requirements and stabilize the grid.


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