Assessing Advanced Test Reactor Process States Using Acoustic Measurement Infrastructure

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vivek Agarwal ◽  
James A. Smith
Keyword(s):  
Nuclear Reactor ◽  
Signal Transmission ◽  
National Laboratory ◽  
Reactor Core ◽  
Operating Conditions ◽  
Acoustic Measurement ◽  
Primary Coolant ◽  
Test Reactor ◽  
Operation Cycle ◽  
Measurement Infrastructure

The core of any nuclear reactor presents a particularly harsh environment for sensors and instrumentations. The reactor core also imposes challenging constraints on signal transmission from inside the reactor core to outside of the reactor vessel. In this paper, an acoustic measurement infrastructure installed at the Advanced Test Reactor (ATR), located at Idaho National Laboratory, is presented. The measurement infrastructure consists of ATR in-pile structural components, coolant, acoustic receivers, primary coolant pumps, a data-acquisition system, and signal processing algorithms. Intrinsic and cyclic acoustic signals generated by the operation of the primary coolant pumps are collected and processed. The characteristics of the intrinsic signal can indicate the process state of the ATR (such as reactor startup, reactor criticality, reactor attaining maximum power, and reactor shutdown) during operation (i.e., real-time measurement). This paper demonstrated different in acoustic signature of the ATR under different operating conditions. In particular, ATR acoustic baseline is captured during typical operation cycle and during power axial locator mechanism operation cycle. The difference in two acoustic baseline is significant and highlights salient difference that are critical in the design and development of acoustically telemetered sensors.

SIMULASI KARAKTERISTIK ALIRAN DAN SUHU FLUIDA PENDINGIN (H2O) PADA TERAS REAKTOR NUKLIR SMR (SMALL MODULAR REACTOR)

ROTASI ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 15 (4) ◽  
pp. 33
Author(s):  
Anwar Ilmar Ramadhan ◽  
Indra Setiawan ◽  
M. Ivan Satryo
Keyword(s):  
Fluid Flow ◽  
Nuclear Reactor ◽  
Reactor Core ◽  
Heat Removal ◽  
Axial Direction ◽  
Operating Conditions ◽  
Fluid Temperature ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Fuel Reactor ◽  
Performance Of Heat Transfer

Safety is an issue that is of considerable concern in the design, operation and development of a nuclear reactor. Therefore, the method of analysis used in all these activities should be thorough and reliable so as to predict a wide range of operating conditions of the reactor, both under normal operating conditions and in the event of an accident. Performance of heat transfer to the cooling of nuclear fuel, reactor safety is key. Poor heat removal performance would threaten the integrity of the fuel cladding which could further impact on the release of radioactive substances into the environment in an uncontrolled manner to endanger the safety of the reactor workers, the general public, and the environment. This study has the objective is to know is profile contour of fluid flow and the temperature distribution pattern of the cooling fluid is water (H2O) in convection in to SMR reactor with fuel sub reed arrangement of hexagonal in forced convection. In this study will be conducted simulations on the SMR reactor core used sub channel hexagonal using CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics) code. And the results of this simulation look more upward (vector of fluid flow) fluid temperature will be warm because the heat moves from the wall to the fluid heater. Axial direction and also looks more fluid away from the heating element temperature will be lower.

Thermal Safety Margin Calculation of the MP-2 Experiment in the Advanced Test Reactor

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Grant L. Hawkes
Keyword(s):  
Finite Element ◽  
Flow Instability ◽  
National Laboratory ◽  
Thermal Analyses ◽  
Safety Margin ◽  
Heat Rate ◽  
Element Model ◽  
Nucleate Boiling ◽  
Primary Coolant ◽  
Test Reactor

Abstract The Mini-Plate 2 (MP-2) irradiation test is a fueled experiment designed for irradiation in multiple test locations in the Advanced Test Reactor (ATR) at the Idaho National Laboratory (INL). The experiment is a drop-in test where small aluminum-clad fuel plate samples (mini plates) are cooled directly by the ATR Primary Coolant System (PCS) water. The MP-2 fuel plate experiment will be irradiated in several different irradiation locations of the ATR. This fueled experiment contains aluminum-clad fuel mini plates consisting of monolithic U-Mo. Four different types of fuel plates with fuel meat thickness and cladding are part of the MP-2 test. A thermal analysis has been performed on the MP-2 experiment. A method for calculating Departure from Nucleate Boiling Ratio (DNBR) and Flow Instability Ratio (FIR) during a reactivity transient using the commercial finite element and heat transfer code ABAQUS is discussed. At the start of an ATR cycle the heat generation rate of the fueled experiment is high and the heat rate multiplier from the outer shim control cylinders is low, while the reverse is true at the end of the ATR cycle. Thermal analyses at 10-day increments during the cycle calculate the DNBR and FIR during a reactivity transient. This technique calculates DNBR for the fuel plate surfaces and FIR for all water components for each finite element surface and node at various times during the ATR cycle. Heat rates vary with time during the transient calculations that are provided by a detailed physics analysis. Oxide growth on the fuel plates is also incorporated. Results from the transient calculations are displayed with the ABAQUS post processor. By calculating these parameters at each location in the finite element model, conservatism is replaced with accuracy. This allows for a greater margin for the thermal hydraulic safety parameters.

scholarly journals Development of a Multi-Loop Flow and Heat Transfer Facility for Advanced Nuclear Reactor Thermal Hydraulic and Hybrid Energy System Studies

2014 ◽  
Author(s):  
James E. O’Brien ◽  
Piyush Sabharwall ◽  
SuJong Yoon
Keyword(s):  
High Temperature ◽  
Nuclear Reactor ◽  
National Laboratory ◽  
Energy System ◽  
Operating Conditions ◽  
Test Facility ◽  
Flow Loop ◽  
Hybrid Energy ◽  
Conceptual Design Phase ◽  
Intermediate Heat Exchanger

A new high-temperature multi-fluid, multi-loop test facility for advanced nuclear applications is under development at the Idaho National Laboratory. The facility will include three flow loops: high-temperature helium, molten salt, and steam/water. Molten salts have been identified as excellent candidate heat transport fluids for primary or secondary coolant loops, supporting advanced high temperature and small modular reactors (SMRs). Details of some of the design aspects and challenges of this facility, which is currently in the conceptual design phase, are discussed. A preliminary design configuration will be presented, with the required characteristics of the various components. The loop will utilize advanced high-temperature compact printed-circuit heat exchangers (PCHEs) operating at prototypic intermediate heat exchanger (IHX) conditions. The initial configuration will include a high-temperature (750°C), high-pressure (7 MPa) helium loop thermally integrated with a molten fluoride salt (KF-ZrF4) flow loop operating at low pressure (0.2 MPa) at a temperature of ∼450°C. Experiment design challenges include identification of suitable materials and components that will withstand the required loop operating conditions. Corrosion and high temperature creep behavior are major considerations. The facility will include a thermal energy storage capability designed to support scaled process heat delivery for a variety of hybrid energy systems and grid stabilization strategies. Experimental results obtained from this research will also provide important data for code verification and validation (V&V) related to these systems.

Predictive Modeling of Acoustic Signals From Thermoacoustic Power Sensors (TAPS)

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher M. Dumm ◽  
Jeffrey S. Vipperman ◽  
Jorge V. Carvajal ◽  
Melissa M. Walter ◽  
Luke Czerniak ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Predictive Modeling ◽  
Acoustic Waves ◽  
Nuclear Reactor ◽  
Reactor Core ◽  
Signal Propagation ◽  
Acoustic Signals ◽  
Operating Conditions ◽  
Liquid Sodium ◽  
Thermoacoustic Engines ◽  
Self Powered

Thermoacoustic Power Sensor (TAPS) technology offers the potential for self-powered, wireless measurement of nuclear reactor core operating conditions. TAPS are based on thermoacoustic engines, which harness thermal energy from fission reactions to generate acoustic waves by virtue of gas motion through a porous stack of thermally nonconductive material. TAPS can be placed in the core, where they generate acoustic waves whose frequency and amplitude are proportional to the local temperature and radiation flux, respectively. TAPS acoustic signals are not measured directly at the TAPS; rather, they propagate wirelessly from an individual TAPS through the reactor, and ultimately to a low-power receiver network on the vessel’s exterior. In order to rely on TAPS as primary instrumentation, reactor-specific models which account for geometric/acoustic complexities in the signal propagation environment must be used to predict the amplitude and frequency of TAPS signals at receiver locations. The reactor state may then be derived by comparing receiver signals to the reference levels established by predictive modeling. In this paper, we develop and experimentally benchmark a methodology for predictive modeling of the signals generated by a TAPS system, with the intent of subsequently extending these efforts to modeling of TAPS in a liquid sodium environment.

scholarly journals CALCULATION OF RADIOACTIVE SOURCE TERM RELEASE FROM FLEXBLUE NPP

2021 ◽  
Vol 23 (2) ◽  
pp. 63
Author(s):  
Muhammad Budi Setiawan ◽  
Pande Made Udiyani
Keyword(s):  
Nuclear Power ◽  
Noble Metals ◽  
Nuclear Reactor ◽  
Source Term ◽  
Reactor Core ◽  
Fission Products ◽  
Operating Conditions ◽  
Normal Operating ◽  
Small Modular Reactor ◽  
Mechanistic Approach

One of the National Research Programs (PRN) in the energy sector of the Indonesian Ministry of Research and Technology for the period of 2020-2024 is small modular reactor (SMR) nuclear power plant (NPP) assessment. The France’s Flexblue is a PWR-based SMR submerged reactor with a power of 160 MWe. The Flexblue reactor module was built on the ocean site and easily provided the supply of reactor modules, in accordance with the conditions of Indonesia as an archipelagic country. Therefore, it is necessary to know the release of fission products (source term), which is necessary for the study of the radiation safety of a nuclear reactor. This paper aims to examine the source term in normal operating conditions and abnormal normal operating conditions, as well as postulated accidents. Based on the Flexblue reactor core parameter data, the calculation of the reactor core inventory uses the ORIGEN2 software is previously evaluated. The source term calculation uses a mechanistic approach and a graded approach. The normal source term is calculated assuming the presence of impurities on the fuel plate, due to fabrication limitations. Meanwhile, the abnormal source term is postulated in the LOCA event. The core reactor inventory and source term is divided into 8 radionuclide groups which are Noble gasses group (Xe, Kr); Halogen (I); Akali Metal (Cs, Rb); Tellurium Group (Te, Sb, Sc); Barium-Strontium Group (Ba, Sr); Noble Metals (Ru, Rh, Pd, Mo, Tc, Co); Lanthanides group (La, Zr, Nd, Eu, Nb, Pm, Pr, Sm, Y, Cm, Am) and Cerium Group (Ce, Pu , Np).

scholarly journals Advanced Test Reactor: A National Scientific User Facility

2008 ◽  
Author(s):  
Clifford J. Stanley ◽  
Frances M. Marshall
Keyword(s):  
Neutron Flux ◽  
National Laboratory ◽  
Reactor Core ◽  
Nuclear Research ◽  
Reactor Power ◽  
Department Of Energy ◽  
Life Extension ◽  
Test Environment ◽  
User Facility ◽  
Test Reactor

This presentation and associated paper provides an overview of the research and irradiation capabilities of the Advanced Test Reactor (ATR) located at the U.S. Department of Energy Idaho National Laboratory (INL). The ATR which has been designated by DOE as a National Scientific User Facility (NSUF) is operated by Battelle Energy Alliance, LLC. This paper will describe the ATR and discuss the research opportunities for university (faculty and students) and industry researchers to use this unique facility for nuclear fuels and materials experiments in support of advanced reactor development and life extension issues for currently operating nuclear reactors. The ATR is a pressurized, light-water moderated and cooled, beryllium-reflected nuclear research reactor with a maximum operating power of 250 MWth. The unique serpentine configuration (Fig. 1) of the fuel elements creates five main reactor power lobes (regions) and nine flux traps. In addition to these nine flux traps there are 68 additional irradiation positions in the reactor core reflector tank. There are also 34 low-flux irradiation positions in the irradiation tanks outside the core reflector tank. The ATR is designed to provide a test environment for the evaluation of the effects of intense radiation (neutron and gamma). Due to the unique serpentine core design each of the five lobes can be operated at different powers and controlled independently. Options exist for the individual test trains and assemblies to be either cooled by the ATR coolant (i.e., exposed to ATR coolant flow rates, pressures, temperatures, and neutron flux) or to be installed in their own independent test loops where such parameters as temperature, pressure, flow rate, neutron flux, and chemistry can be controlled per experimenter specifications. The full-power maximum thermal neutron flux is ∼1.0 x1015 n/cm2-sec with a maximum fast flux of ∼5.0 x1014 n/cm2-sec. The Advanced Test Reactor, now a National Scientific User Facility, is a versatile tool in which a variety of nuclear reactor, nuclear physics, reactor fuel, and structural material irradiation experiments can be conducted. The cumulative effects of years of irradiation in a normal power reactor can be duplicated in a few weeks or months in the ATR due to its unique design, power density, and operating flexibility.

Thermal Analysis of the FSP-1 Experiment in the Advanced Test Reactor

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Grant L. Hawkes ◽  
Nicolas E. Woolstenhulme
Keyword(s):  
Thermal Analysis ◽  
Flow Instability ◽  
National Laboratory ◽  
Safety Evaluation ◽  
Thermal Safety ◽  
Primary Coolant ◽  
Coolant Pump ◽  
Safety Margins ◽  
Enriched Uranium ◽  
Test Reactor

The U.S. High Performance Research Reactor Conversions fuel development team is focused on developing and qualifying the uranium-molybdenum (U-Mo) alloy monolithic fuel to support conversion of domestic research reactors to low enriched uranium. Several previous irradiations have demonstrated the favorable behavior of the monolithic fuel. The Full Scale Plate 1 (FSP-1) fuel plate experiment will be irradiated in the northeast (NE) flux trap of the Advanced Test Reactor (ATR). This fueled experiment contains six aluminum-clad fuel plates consisting of monolithic U-Mo fuel meat. Three different types of fuel plates with matching pairs for a total of six plates were analyzed. These three types of plates are: full burn, intermediate power, and thick meat. A thermal analysis has been performed on the FSP-1 experiment to be irradiated in the ATR at the Idaho National Laboratory (INL). A thermal safety evaluation was performed to demonstrate that the FSP-1 irradiation experiment complies with the thermal-hydraulic safety requirements of the ATR Safety Analysis Report (SAR). The ATR SAR requires that minimum safety margins to critical heat flux and flow instability be met in the case of a loss of commercial power with primary coolant pump coast-down to emergency flow. The thermal safety evaluation was performed at 26 MW NE lobe power to encompass the expected range of operating power during a standard cycle. Additional safety evaluations of reactivity insertion events, loss of coolant event, and free convection cooling in the reactor and in the canal are used to determine the response of the experiment to these events and conditions. This paper reports and shows that each safety evaluation complies with each safety requirement of the ATR SAR.

scholarly journals Status of the Combined Third and Fourth NGNP Fuel Irradiations in the Advanced Test Reactor

2013 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Blaine Grover ◽  
David A. Petti ◽  
Michael E. Davenport
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Fission Product ◽  
National Laboratory ◽  
The United States ◽  
Operating Conditions ◽  
United States Department ◽  
Next Generation ◽  
Monitoring And Control ◽  
On Line ◽  
Test Reactor

The United States Department of Energy’s Next Generation Nuclear Plant (NGNP) Advanced Gas Reactor (AGR) Fuel Development and Qualification Program is irradiating up to seven low enriched uranium (LEU) tri-isotopic (TRISO) particle fuel (in compact form) experiments in the Advanced Test Reactor (ATR) located at the Idaho National Laboratory (INL). These irradiations and fuel development are being accomplished to support development of the next generation reactors in the United States. The experiments will be irradiated over the next several years to demonstrate and qualify new TRISO coated particle fuel for use in high temperature gas reactors. The goals of the experiments are to provide irradiation performance data to support fuel process development, to qualify fuel for normal operating conditions, to support development and validation of fuel performance and fission product transport models and codes, and to provide irradiated fuel and materials for post irradiation examination (PIE) and safety testing. The experiments, which will each consist of several independent capsules, will be irradiated in an inert sweep gas atmosphere with individual on-line temperature monitoring and control of each capsule. The sweep gas will also have on-line fission product monitoring on its effluent to track performance of the fuel in each individual capsule during irradiation. The first experiment (designated AGR-1) started irradiation in December 2006 and was completed in November 2009. The second experiment (AGR-2) started irradiation in June 2010 and is currently scheduled to be completed in September 2013. The third and fourth experiments have been combined into a single experiment designated (AGR-3/4), which started its irradiation in December 2011 and is currently scheduled to be completed in April 2014. Since the purpose of this combined experiment is to provide data on fission product migration and retention in the NGNP reactor, the design of this experiment is significantly different from the first two experiments, though the control and monitoring systems are extremely similar. The design of the experiment will be discussed followed by its progress and status to date.

scholarly journals Patchy nuclear chain reactions

2021 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Eric Dumonteil ◽  
Rian Bahran ◽  
Theresa Cutler ◽  
Benjamin Dechenaux ◽  
Travis Grove ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Nuclear Reactor ◽  
Reactor Core ◽  
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute ◽  
Operating Conditions ◽  
Chain Reactions ◽  
Branching Random Walks ◽  
Stochastic Fluctuations ◽  
Nuclear Chain ◽  
Reactor Operating ◽  
Experimental Findings

AbstractStochastic fluctuations of the neutron population within a nuclear reactor are typically prevented by operating the core at a sufficient power, since a deterministic (i.e., exactly predictable) behavior of the neutron population is required by automatic safety systems to detect unwanted power excursions. In order to characterize the reactor operating conditions at which the fluctuations vanish, an experiment was designed and took place in 2017 at the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Reactor Critical Facility. This experiment however revealed persisting fluctuations and striking patchy spatial patterns in neutron spatial distributions. Here we report these experimental findings, interpret them by a stochastic modeling based on branching random walks, and extend them using a “numerical twin” of the reactor core. Consequences on nuclear safety will be discussed.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document