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1	Validating results from the Molten Salt Reactor Experiment by use of turbulent CFD simulations : A study of a modified U-tube shell-and-tube primary heat exchanger and radiator with molten salts Akner, Malcolm January 2021 (has links) Background Nuclear reactors utilizing molten fuels rather than solid fuels show a massive advantage in energy yield, waste handling and safety features. The only successful reactor utilizing a molten fuel was called the ‘Molten Salt Reactor Experiment’ (MSRE), built and operated in the Oak Ridge national laboratory (ORNL) in Tennessee, U.S.A. during the 1960s. The molten salts in question are fluoride compounds under the name of “FLiBe”. In this thesis, the heat exchangers of the MSRE are modelled and simulated, with the aim to test whether current computational fluid dynamics (CFD) software and mathematical models can accurately predict molten salt heat transfer behaviour. Methods All programs used are open-source and/or free-access to facilitate open collaboration between researchers in this growing field. All models and findings produced in this thesis are free to use for future research. The program Onshape was used to draw CAD-models based on hand-drawn technical documents released by ORNL. Several programs, e.g., Simscale and Salome, were used to create high detailed meshes of the heat exchangers. The CFD software Simscale and OpenFOAM have been used to simulate the heat exchangers, using the 𝑘 − 𝜔 𝑆𝑆𝑇 Reynolds averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) turbulence model to perform a multiregion conjugate heat transfer (CHT) analysis. The program Paraview has been used for all post-processing on the large datasets. Results A working toolchain with open-source programs for CFD has been identified. Highly detailed, full-scale and accurate CAD-drawings of the two heat exchangers have been produced. Models have been finely meshed, containing tens of millions of cells, with good quality measures. The simulations produced physically sound and valuable data: Great heat transfer predictive capability with high accuracy to the data presented by ORNL. Pressure data showed a consistent over-prediction with a factor of ~2. Possibility of error within the MSRE measurement. Conclusions CHT using modern turbulence methods work well for the intended purpose and can be used by industry to simulate molten salt heat transfer. Open-source programs perform well and can be used by researchers to share ideas and progress. Doubts around certain measurements from the MSRE, showing large uncertainties. Future projects have been outlined to continue the work performed in this thesis. Molten salt reactors show fantastic promise as an energy generation method and should be seriously considered for the future of clean, reliable energy. CFD MSRE CAD CHT experiment molten liquid salt fluid mechanics mechanics fluid LTU nuclear reactor nuclear reactor generation four generation IV copenhagen atomics copenhagen atomics space engineering space engineering aerospace thesis master's thesis master's Malcolm Akner Erik CFD MSRE CAD CHT flytande salt strömningslära strömningsmekanik fluid fluidmekanik LTU kärnreaktor generation fyra generation IV copenhagen atomics rymdteknik flygteknik ingenjör civilingenjör examensarbete Malcolm Akner Erik Aerospace Engineering Rymd- och flygteknik

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Validating results from the Molten Salt Reactor Experiment by use of turbulent CFD simulations : A study of a modified U-tube shell-and-tube primary heat exchanger and radiator with molten salts