Particulate Systems Research presentations (MU)
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Items in this collection are public presentations made by Particulate Systems Research Center faculty, staff, and students, either alone or as co-authors, and which may or may not have been published in an alternate format. Items may contain more than one file type.
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Item Fundamental Understanding of Pebble Bed Nuclear Reactors for Environmentally Benign and Risk Free Proliferation 4th Generation Nuclear Energy and Hydrogen Production [abstract](2009-04) Al-Dahhan, Muthanna; Abdulmohsen, M.; Morali, M.; Loyalka, S. K.; University of Missouri (System); Missouri Energy Summit (2009 : University of Missouri--Columbia)Pebble bed nuclear reactor is among the 6 suggested 4th generation nuclear reactors. It is also one of the advanced high temperature gas nuclear reactors (AGRs). In such reactor the pebbles that contain the nuclear fuel particles (TRISO) (~900-950 micron) move downward while high temperature helium moves upward. These pebbles are circulated until they are spent. The pebble bed nuclear reactors are characterized as environmentally benign, risk free proliferation with high thermal efficiency (about 55% while the current nuclear reactor technology provides ~ 35%). The fundamental understanding of these reactors is lacking. Therefore, this work as a part of the research program on high temperature reactors through the consortium consists of University of Missouri - Columbia, Missouri S&T, North Carolina State University focuses on the detailed hydrodynamics of the pebbles movement, gas dynamics and heat transfer using both advanced measurement and computation techniques. The progress made on this project at Missouri S&T will be presented and the future work will be outlined.Item A Research Program on Very High Temperature Reactors(2009-04) Loyalka, S. K.; Ghosh, Tushar K., Dr.; Prelas, Mark Antonio, 1953-; Tompson, R. V. (Robert Vaughn), 1958-; Viswanath, Dabir S.; Al-Dahhan, Muthanna; Gardner, Robin P.; University of Missouri (System); Missouri Energy Summit (2009 : University of Missouri--Columbia)Prismatic and pebble bed very high-temperature reactors (VHTRs) are very attractive both from a thermodynamic efficiency viewpoint and hydrogen-production capability. This project addresses numerous challenges associated with the fuel cycle, materials, and complex fluid dynamics and heat transfer. The objectives of the project are to: i. Conduct physical experiments for fission product transport phenomena in the overcoating and compact structural graphite and transport through TRISO coating layers; ii. Develop improved sorption measurement techniques to measure the accumulation of condensable radionuclides (“plateout”) in the VHTR primary coolant circuit and obtain representative data; iii. Develop advanced computations of charged, radioactive dust (aerosol) transport in the VHTR coolant circuit and confinement by exploring direct simulation Monte Carlo (DSMC) techniques for deposition and resuspension and conduct experiments to verify computational predictions; iv. Develop a program to measure emissivity for various VHTR component materials, both bare and oxidized, and obtain extensive data; v. Develop an experimental program to characterize gas, fission product, and particle flows in the complex geometries of pebble bed modular reactors (PBMRs) and help improve computational approaches and computer programs through experimental understandings. This project is leading to research training of about a dozen Ph D students at the participating universities. Upon graduation, these students will be able to contribute even more effectively to the future challenges in the global deployment of nuclear power generation and hydrogen technologies. We will discuss the VHTR technology and research challenges. We also describe progress on the project by the three Consortium participants.