Analysis Methods for High Energy Line Break Jet Flows in Nuclear Power Plants

The effects of postulated accidents, including dynamic effects of pipe ruptures, must be analyzed for licensing of nuclear power plants (NPPs). Applicants and licensees of NPPs have struggled to address U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) expectations to assess if high energy line break (HELB) jet impingement on structures and components can lead to dynamic amplification, and to accurately simulate blast wave-induced loadings. In this paper, evaluation of the potential for load amplification and occurrence of resonance conclusively demonstrates that the phenomenon does not occur. In a HELB, several physical parameters of jets issuing from a ruptured pipe—such as nonequilibrium condensation of steam, unsteady separation between the jet exit and target, nonorthogonal alignment of jet axis to impingement surface, uneven impingement surfaces, or mismatch of jet excitation frequency and target natural frequency—prevent occurrence of the phase lock conditions needed to initiate and maintain a resonance. The analytical approach to evaluate the blast wave-induced loading applied a pressure vessel burst (PVB) correlation instead of performing computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analysis for all break locations. Three-dimensional (3D) CFD analysis of blast wave transient propagation provided the basis to develop benchmarking factors for use with the PVB correlation. The simplified methodology utilizes shockwave reflection, shape, and environment factors for application to impacted targets, which significantly reduces the amount of time to evaluate all break locations. The modified PVB method is also more appropriate than an explosion-type correlation to model the blast wave pressures from steam pipe breaks.

Photothermal Energy Conversion Enhancement Studies Using Low Concentration Nanofluids

The present study aims to develop a compact experimental facility to trap solar energy. Line focusing concentrators, i.e., Fresnel lens and secondary reflectors, are coupled to enhance the photothermal conversion efficiency. Two types of receiver tubes are used, a plain copper tube and an evacuated glass tube embedded with a copper tube. Surfactant-free multiwalled carbon nanotubes–Therminol55 nanofluid with concentrations of 25, 50, 75, and 100 ppm are used in this study. The characterization of the nanoparticles and nanofluids is presented. In the visible range, a maximum absorbance and extinction coefficient of 0.75 and 1.7 cm−1 are obtained for 100 ppm concentration. The thermal conductivity is also enhanced by 6.29% compared to base fluid. A maximum fluid temperature of 78.15 and 89.58 °C is observed for plain receiver tube and receiver tube in evacuated space, respectively, and the corresponding efficiencies are 12.65 and 17.36%