Thermal-Hydraulic Design Support and Safety Analyses of SEALER UK Demo

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kevin Zwijsen ◽  
Heleen Uitslag-Doolaard ◽  
Ferry Roelofs ◽  
Janne Wallenius
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Cycle ◽  
Safety Evaluation ◽  
Evaluation Process ◽  
Design Parameters ◽  
Cfd Model ◽  
Pressure Drops ◽  
Design Values ◽  
Water Reactors ◽  
Passively Safe ◽  
The Uk

Abstract SEALER (SwEdish Advanced Lead Reactor) is a passively safe lead-cooled reactor designed for commercial power production, under design by the LeadCold company. The reactor is modular in design, allowing for factory production and reduction in investment risk compared with new-build of large Light Water Reactors. Furthermore, its core is designed such that it can generate power for up to 25 years without the need of on-site fuel-cycle operations. The SEALER UK model has specifically been designed to produce base-load power on the UK grid. In the design and safety evaluation process, NRG is currently providing support to LeadCold Reactors with respect to thermal-hydraulic safety analyses utilizing Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) competences. The current paper gives a comprehensive description of a 3D CFD model created of SEALER UK Demo, which is a scaled-down demonstrator of SEALER UK. The geometry of the CFD model of SEALER UK Demo as well as the modelling approach and numerical settings are presented here. Assumptions were made in order to make it computationally feasible to perform simulations. These are discussed as well. Subsequently, the 3D CFD model is used to perform steady-state analyses of SEALER UK Demo operating under nominal conditions. Main parameters such as mass flow rates, temperatures and core pressure drops coming from the model match the design values well, with differences being at most a couple percent. Also, it is found that the margin to lead freezing with the current design parameters is more than 50K.

Advanced First Core Design for the Westinghouse AP1000

2009 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert J. Fetterman
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Cycle ◽  
The United States ◽  
Pressurized Water ◽  
Loading Pattern ◽  
The Core ◽  
Low Leakage ◽  
Fuel Assemblies ◽  
Cycle Loading ◽  
Water Reactors ◽  
Under Construction

As the nuclear renaissance is now upon us and new plants are either under construction or being ordered, a considerable amount of attention has also turned to the design of the first fuel cycle. Requirements for core designs originate in the Utilities Requirements Document (URD) for the United States and the European Utilities Requirements (EUR) for Europe. First core designs created during the development of these documents were based on core design technology dating back to the 1970’s, where the first cycle core loading pattern placed the highest enrichment fuel on the core periphery and two other lower enrichments in the core interior. While this sort of core design provided acceptable performance, it underutilized the higher enriched fuel assemblies and tended to make transition to the first reload cycle challenging, especially considering that reload core designs are now almost entirely of the Low Leakage Loading Pattern (LLLP) design. The demands placed on today’s existing fleet of pressurized water reactors for improved fuel performance and economy are also desired for the upcoming Generation III+ fleet of plants. As a result of these demands, Westinghouse has developed an Advanced First Core (AFCPP) design for the initial cycle loading pattern. This loading pattern design simulates the reactivity distribution of an 18 month low leakage reload cycle design by placing the higher enriched assemblies in the core interior which results in improved uranium utilization for those fuel assemblies carried through the first and second reload cycles. Another feature of the advanced first core design is radial zoning of the high enriched assemblies, which allows these assemblies to be located in the core interior while still maintaining margin to peaking factor limits throughout the cycle. Finally, the advanced first core loading pattern also employs a variety of burnable absorber designs and lengths to yield radial and axial power distributions very similar to those found in typical low leakage reload cycle designs. This paper will describe each of these key features and demonstrate the operating margins of the AFC design and the ability of the AFC design to allow easy transition into 18 month low leakage reload cycles. The fuel economics of the AFC design will also be compared to those of a more traditional first core loading pattern.

Collision analysis and safety evaluation using a collision model for the frontal robot–human impact

Robotica ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 33 (7) ◽  
pp. 1536-1550 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jung-Jun Park ◽  
Jae-Bok Song ◽  
Sami Haddadin
Keyword(s):  
Impact Analysis ◽  
Safety Evaluation ◽  
Design Parameters ◽  
Body Parts ◽  
Robot Arm ◽  
Collision Model ◽  
Crash Testing ◽  
Mass Spring ◽  
Head Neck ◽  
Significant Attention

SUMMARYThe safety analysis of human–robot collisions has recently drawn significant attention, as robots are increasingly used in human environments. In order to understand the potential injury a robot could cause in case of an impact, such incidents should be evaluated before designing a robot arm based on biomechanical safety criteria. In recent literature, such incidents have been investigated mostly by experimental crash-testing. However, experimental methods are expensive, and the design parameters of the robot arm are difficult to change instantly. In order to solve this issue, we propose a novel robot-human collision model consisting of a 6-degree-of-freedom mass-spring-damper system for impact analysis. Since the proposed robot-human consists of a head, neck, chest, and torso, the relative motion among these body parts can be analyzed. In this study, collision analysis of impacts to the head, neck, and chest at various collision speeds are conducted using the proposed collision model. Then, the degree of injury is estimated by using various biomechanical severity indices. The reliability of the proposed collision model is verified by comparing the obtained simulation results with experimental results from literature. Furthermore, the basic requirements for the design of safer robots are determined.

scholarly journals Variability in Pavement Design

2015 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. 50-67 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paola Dalla Valle ◽  
Nick Thom
Keyword(s):  
Pavement Design ◽  
Pavement Performance ◽  
Design Parameters ◽  
Probability Density Distribution ◽  
Analysis And Design ◽  
The Subject ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Subgrade Modulus ◽  
Input Variables ◽  
The Uk

Abstract This paper presents the results of a review on variability of key pavement design input variables (asphalt modulus and thickness, subgrade modulus) and assesses effects on pavement performance (fatigue and deformation life). Variability is described by statistical terms such as mean and standard deviation and by its probability density distribution. The subject of reliability in pavement design has pushed many highway organisations around the world to review their design methodologies, mainly empirical, to move towards mechanistic-empirical analysis and design which provide the tools for the designer to evaluate the effect of variations in materials on pavement performance. This research has reinforced this need for understanding how the variability of design parameters affects the pavement performance. This study has only considered flexible pavements. The sites considered for the analysis, all in the UK (including Northern Ireland), were mainly motorways or major trunk roads. Pavement survey data analysed were for Lane 1, the most heavily trafficked lane. Sections 1km long were considered wherever possible. Statistical characterisation of the variation of layer thickness, asphalt stiffness and subgrade stiffness is addressed. A sensitivity analysis is then carried out to assess which parameter(s) have the greater influence on the pavement life. The research shows that, combining the effect of all the parameters considered, the maximum range of 15th and 85th percentiles (as percentages of the mean) was found to be 64% to 558% for the fatigue life and 94% to 808% for the deformation life.

Numerical Investigation of Natural Convection in a Mono-Span Greenhouse

2012 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sunita Kruger ◽  
Leon Pretorius
Keyword(s):  
Fluid Dynamics ◽  
Computational Fluid Dynamics ◽  
Natural Convection ◽  
Pitch Angle ◽  
Design Tool ◽  
Design Parameters ◽  
Two Dimensional ◽  
Cfd Model ◽  
Indoor Climate ◽  
Contour Plots

In this paper, the use of computational fluid dynamics is evaluated as a design tool to investigate the indoor climate of a confined greenhouse. The finite volume method using polyhedral cells is used to solve the governing mass, momentum and energy equations. Natural convection in a cavity corresponding to a mono-span venlo-type greenhouse is numerically investigated using Computational Fluid Dynamics. The CFD model is designed so as to simulate the climate above a plant canopy in an actual multi-span greenhouse heated by solar radiation. The aim of this paper is to investigate the influence of various design parameters such as pitch angle and roof asymmetry and on the velocity and temperature patterns inside a confined single span greenhouse heated from below. In the study reported in this paper a two-dimensional CFD model was generated for the mono-span venlo-type greenhouse, and a mesh sensitivity analysis was conducted to determine the mesh independence of the solution. Similar two-dimensional flow patterns were observed in the obtained CFD results as the experimental results reported by Lamrani et al [2]. The CFD model was then modified and used to explore the effect of roof pitch angle and roof asymmetry at floor level on the development of the flow and temperature patterns inside the cavity for various Rayleigh numbers. Results are presented in the form of vector and contour plots. It was found that considerable temperature and velocity gradients were observed in the centre of the greenhouse for each case in the first 40mm above the ground, as well as in the last 24mm close to the roof. Results also indicated that the Rayleigh number did not have a significant impact on the flow and temperature patterns inside the greenhouse, although roof angle and asymmetry did. The current results demonstrate the importance of CFD as a design tool in the case of greenhouse design.

Design Parameters of Brush Seals and Their Impact on Seal Performance

2012 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. Schwarz ◽  
J. Friedrichs ◽  
J. Flegler
Keyword(s):  
Steam Turbine ◽  
Gas Turbine ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Design Parameters ◽  
Test Rig ◽  
Pressure Drops ◽  
Seal Design ◽  
Brush Seal ◽  
Extreme Load ◽  
Brush Seals

Brush seals, which were originally designed for gas turbine applications, have been successfully applied to large-scale steam turbines within the past decade. From gas turbine applications, the fundamental behavior and designing levers are known. However, the application of brush seals to a steam turbine is still a challenge. This challenge is mainly due to the extreme load on the brush seal while operating under steam. Furthermore, it is difficult to test brush seals under realistic conditions, i.e. under live steam conditions with high pressure drops. Due to these insufficiencies, 2 test rigs were developed at the University of Technology Braunschweig, Germany. The first test rig is operated under pressurized air and allows testing specific brush seal characteristics concerning their general behavior. The knowledge gained from these tests can be validated in the second test rig, which is operated under steam at pressure drops of 45 bar and temperatures up to 450 °C. Using both the air test rig and the steam test rig helps keep the testing effort comparably small. Design variants can be pre-tested with air, and promising brush seal designs can consequently be tested in the steam seal test rig. The paper focuses on a clamped brush seal design which, amongst others, is used in steam turbine blade paths and shaft seals of current Siemens turbines. The consequences of the brush assembly on the brush appearance and brush performance are shown. The clamped brush seal design reveals several particularities compared to welded brushes. It could be shown that the clamped bristle pack tends to gape when clamping forces rise. Gapping results in an axially expanding bristle pack, where the bristle density per unit area and the leakage flow vary. Furthermore, the brush elements are usually assembled with an axial lay angle, i.e. the bristles are reclined against the backing plate. Hence, the axial lay angle is also part of the investigation.

scholarly journals Progress and Challenges in the Improvement of Ornamental Plants by Genome Editing

Plants ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (6) ◽  
pp. 687 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chang Ho Ahn ◽  
Mummadireddy Ramya ◽  
Hye Ryun An ◽  
Pil Man Park ◽  
Yae-Jin Kim ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Genome Editing ◽  
Gene Editing ◽  
Genetically Modified Organisms ◽  
Ornamental Plants ◽  
Safety Evaluation ◽  
Evaluation Process ◽  
Vase Life ◽  
Transcription Activator ◽  
A Genome ◽  
Dna Specificity

Biotechnological approaches have been used to modify the floral color, size, and fragrance of ornamental plants, as well as to increase disease resistance and vase life. Together with the advancement of whole genome sequencing technologies, new plant breeding techniques have rapidly emerged in recent years. Compared to the early versions of gene editing tools, such as meganucleases (MNs), zinc fingers (ZFNs), and transcription activator-like effector nucleases (TALENs), clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat (CRISPR) is capable of altering a genome more efficiently and with higher accuracy. Most recently, new CRISPR systems, including base editors and prime editors, confer reduced off-target activity with improved DNA specificity and an expanded targeting scope. However, there are still controversial issues worldwide for the recognition of genome-edited plants, including whether genome-edited plants are genetically modified organisms and require a safety evaluation process. In the current review, we briefly summarize the current progress in gene editing systems and also introduce successful/representative cases of the CRISPR system application for the improvement of ornamental plants with desirable traits. Furthermore, potential challenges and future prospects in the use of genome-editing tools for ornamental plants are also discussed.

Development of a Computer Program for the Numerical Investigation of Heat Transfer in a Gasketed Plate Heat Exchanger

2010 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gizem Gulben ◽  
Selin Aradag ◽  
Nilay Sezer-Uzol ◽  
Ufuk Atamturk
Keyword(s):  
Heat Transfer ◽  
Heat Exchanger ◽  
Computer Program ◽  
Working Conditions ◽  
Convective Heat Transfer Coefficient ◽  
Plate Heat Exchanger ◽  
Design Parameters ◽  
Outlet Temperature ◽  
Pressure Drops ◽  
Plate Heat

In this study, a computer program is developed to calculate characteristics of a Chevron type gasketed plate heat exchanger (CTGPHEX) such as: the number of plates, the effective surface area and total pressure drops. The main reason to prefer the use of CTGPHEXs to other various types of heat exchangers is that the heat transfer efficiency is much higher in comparison. Working conditions such as the flow rates and inlet and outlet temperature of both flow sides and plate design parameters are used as an input in the program. The Logarithmic Mean Temperature Method and the different correlations for convective heat transfer coefficient and Fanning factor that are found in the literature are applied to calculate the minimum necessary effective heat transfer area, the number of plate and pressure drops due to friction for both fluid sides of fulfill the desired heat transfer rate. This Turkish / English language optioned user friendly computer program is targeted to be used in domestic companies to design and select CTGPHEXs for any desired working conditions.

scholarly journals Concept of Erbium Doped Uranium Oxide Fuel Cycle in Light Water Reactors

2002 ◽  
Vol 39 (5) ◽  
pp. 506-513 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vladimir BARCHEVTSEV ◽  
Vladimir ARTISYUK ◽  
Hisashi NINOKATA
Keyword(s):  
Uranium Oxide ◽  
Fuel Cycle ◽  
Oxide Fuel ◽  
Light Water Reactors ◽  
Light Water ◽  
Erbium Doped ◽  
Water Reactors
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