Nuclear fuel comes in many forms; oxide fuel is the most commonly used in current reactor systems while metal fuel is a promising fuel type for future reactors due to neutronic performance and increased thermal conductivity. As a key heat transfer parameter, thermal conductivity describes the heat transport properties of a material based upon the density, specific heat, and thermal diffusivity. A material’s ability to transport thermal energy through its structure is a measurable property known as thermal diffusivity; the units for thermal diffusivity are given in area per unit time (e.g., m2/s). Current measurement methods for thermal diffusivity include LASER (or light) Flash Analysis and the hot-wire method. This study examines an approach that combines these previous two methods to characterize the diffusivity of a packed bed of microspheres of depleted uranium (DU) metal, which have a nominal diameter of 250 micrometers. The new apparatus is designated as the Crucible Heater Test Assembly (CHTA), and it induces a radial transient across a packed sample of microspheres then monitors the temperature profile using an array of thermocouples located at different distances from the source of the thermal transient. From the thermocouple data and an accurate time log, the thermal diffusivity of the sample may be calculated. Results indicate that DU microspheres have very low thermal conductivity, relative to solid uranium metal, and rapidly form an oxidation layer. At 500°C, the thermal conductivity of the DU microspheres was 0.431 ± 13% W/m-K compared to approximately 32 W/m-K for solid uranium metal. Characterization of the developed apparatus revealed a method that may be useful for measuring the thermal diffusivity of powders and liquids.

Diffusive mass transport within porous SOFC components is explored using two modeling approaches that can better inform the SOFC electrode design process. These approaches include performance metrics for electrode cross-sectional design and a fractal approach for modeling mass transport within the pore structure of the electrode reaction zone. The performance metrics presented are based on existing analytical models for transport within SOFC electrodes. These metrics include a correction factor for button-cell partial pressure predictions and two forms of dimensionless reactant depletion current density. The performance impacts of multi-dimensional transport phenomena are addressed through the development of design maps that capture the trade-offs inherent in the reduction of mass transport losses within SOFC electrode cross-sections. As a complement to these bulk electrode models, a fractal model is presented for modeling diffusion within the electrochemically active region of an SOFC electrode. The porous electrode is separated into bulk and reaction zone regions, with the bulk electrode modeled in one-dimension based on the dusty-gas formalism. The reaction zone is modeled in detail with a two-dimensional finite element model using a regular Koch pore cross-section as a fractal template for the pore structure. Drawing on concepts from the analysis of porous catalysts, this model leads to a straightforward means of assessing the performance impacts of reaction zone microstructure. Together, the modeling approaches presented provide key insights into the impacts of bulk and microstructural geometry on the performance of porous SOFC components.

Thermal properties of pure methane hydrate, under conditions similar to naturally occurring hydrate-bearing sediments being considered for potential production, have been determined both by a new experimental technique and by advanced molecular dynamics simulation (MDS). A novel single-sided, Transient Plane Source (TPS) technique has been developed and used to measure thermal conductivity and thermal diffusivity values of low-porosity methane hydrate formed in the laboratory. The experimental thermal conductivity data are closely matched by results from an equilibrium MDS method using in-plane polarization of the water molecules. MDS was also performed using a non-equilibrium model with a fully polarizable force field for water. The calculated thermal conductivity values from this latter approach were similar to the experimental data. The impact of thermal conductivity on gas production from a hydrate-bearing reservoir was also evaluated using the Tough+/Hydrate reservoir simulator (Revised version of ICGH paper 5646).

Made available in DSpace on 2014-10-09T12:38:21Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 / Made available in DSpace on 2014-10-09T14:05:07Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 05678.pdf: 6012797 bytes, checksum: fe9d7fe0fee771d558f91a7bffb7cfa3 (MD5) / Tese (Doutoramento) / IPEN/T / Instituto de Pesquisas Energeticas e Nucleares - IPEN/CNEN-SP

Made available in DSpace on 2014-10-09T12:41:14Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 / Made available in DSpace on 2014-10-09T14:08:34Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 / Dissertação (Mestrado) / IPEN/D / Instituto de Pesquisas Energeticas e Nucleares - IPEN-CNEN/SP

Made available in DSpace on 2015-05-08T14:59:38Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 arquivototal.pdf: 6363993 bytes, checksum: e8cfe3d37bd9a2f2218e5522ba2ddff7 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2009-08-11 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - CAPES / The analysis of properties of heat and mass transfer in foods has recently received increased attention due to its importance in modeling, and in the optimization of equipments and processes. In this work, an experimental procedure was performed with commercial-type, natural and skimmed yoghurt purchased from the local market, in order to estimate the thermal diffusivity. The experimental procedure was developed for liquid sample. The sample was placed between two metal plates. The thermal diffusivity was obtained from measurements of frontal temperature. The experimental procedure was performed in a micro-flash apparatus, model 457 LFA and thermal conductivity was determined in the calorimeter model 2920 mark TA Modulated. The results for thermal diffusivity and thermal conductivity present a good agreement with the available values from the literature. / A análise das propriedades de transferência de calor e massa em alimentos tem recebido maior atenção recentemente devida sua importância fundamental na modelagem, na otimização e nos projetos de equipamentos para processos. Neste trabalho, procedimentos experimentais foram realizados com iogurtes comerciais do tipo natural e desnatados, obtidos no mercado local com o objetivo de estimar a difusividade térmica. O procedimento experimental foi desenvolvido para líquidos entre placas metálicas e uma amostra liquida e mediu a avaliação da temperatura sobre a face frontal, a partir da qual foi obtida a difusividade térmica. O procedimento experimental foi realizado em um aparelho micro-flash, modelo LFA 457 da Netzsch e o calor específico foi determinados no calorímetro modelo 2920 Modulated marca TA. Os resultados obtidos para a difusividade térmica e condutividade térmica apresentam boa concordância com os valores disponíveis na literatura.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-10-09T12:38:21Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 / Made available in DSpace on 2014-10-09T14:05:07Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 05678.pdf: 6012797 bytes, checksum: fe9d7fe0fee771d558f91a7bffb7cfa3 (MD5) / Tese (Doutoramento) / IPEN/T / Instituto de Pesquisas Energeticas e Nucleares - IPEN/CNEN-SP

Made available in DSpace on 2014-10-09T12:41:14Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 / Made available in DSpace on 2014-10-09T14:08:34Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 / O objetivo deste trabalho foi desenvolver um software, de fácil operação e eficiente, para determinar a difusividade térmica de biomateriais. A necessidade de se conhecer a difusividade térmica de materiais como, por exemplo, esmalte e dentina, é essencial para o estabelecimento de protocolos de utilização clínica laser, para evitar danos colaterais ao paciente. O software desenvolvido, denominado CZ ThermaDiff, baseia-se no processamento de imagens térmicas adquiridas por uma câmera termográfica no infravermelho (ThermaCam SC3000, FLIR System, EUA). Foi desenvolvido em ambiente LabView, o que permitiu criar um painel de controle de fácil operação, contendo apenas duas funções básicas (Start e Stop). O software arquiva os dados em formato de tabela contendo todas as medidas de difusividade térmica, suas médias para intervalos de 10 °C e suas respectivas temperaturas, para uma amostra. Foi observado, tanto para o esmalte quanto para a dentina, que os valores de difusividade não são constantes e aumentavam em função da temperatura. Os valores encontrados foram aplicados a um modelo de transferência de calor, simulando um dente molar humano com as seguintes estruturas: esmalte, dentina e polpa. O modelo baseia-se no método de resistores térmicos, sendo que para a polpa foi utilizado o modelo de difusão de calor, considerando a circulação sanguínea. Os valores de temperatura obtidos neste modelo teórico, utilizando difusividades dependentes da temperatura foram maiores que as obtidas com um valor constante de difusividade, medido à temperatura ambiente. Este fato realça a importância da mensuração da difusividade em função da temperatura e da interface desenvolvida neste trabalho. / Dissertação (Mestrado) / IPEN/D / Instituto de Pesquisas Energeticas e Nucleares - IPEN-CNEN/SP

L'usage des matériaux composites dans les différents domaines technologiques (microélectronique, aéronautique, transports…) ne cesse de croître. Une telle augmentation vient du fait qu'il est possible de développer de nouveaux matériaux avec des propriétés adaptées à une application bien préc ise en combinant les propriétés physiques des différents constituants. Dans le travail de thèse, nous nous intéressons à l'étude des propriétés thermophysiques, électriques et diélectriques de composites à base de matrice polymère chargée avec des fibres naturelles et/ou de particules minérales. L'objectif final étant d'une part d'accroître notre connaissance sur le mécanisme de transfert (thermique, électrique et diélectrique) au sein des matériaux composites et d'autre part, de développer une méthode de mesure des propriétés thermophysiques des matériaux à différentes températures (-20°C etlt; T etlt; 180°C) / The use of composite materials in various fields of technology (microelectronics, aerospace, transportation ...) continues to grow. Such an increase is that it is possible to develop new materials with properties tailored to a specific application by combining the physical properties of different constituents.In the thesis, we focus on the study of thermophysical properties, electrical and dielectric of composites based on polymer matrix loaded with natural fibers and/or mineral particles.The final goal is to increase our knowledge on the mechanism of transfer (thermal, electrical and dielectric) in composite materials and secondly, to develop a method for measuring thermophysical properties of materials at different temperatures (-20°C etlt; Tetlt; 180°C)

Les matériaux composites à matrice céramique (CMCs) à matrice auto-cicatrisantes (MAC) sont développées depuis plusieurs années pour leurs possibilités d'application dans le domaine de la propulsion aéronautique où ils se révèlent trés intéressants en termes de résistance à des conditions sévères et de légèreté. Dans le cadre d'un programme d'étude du comportement des CMC-MAC et de leurs mécanismes d'endommagement, l'objectif de ces travaux est de construire un modèle numérique multi-physique permettant de déterminer la durée de vie d'un échantillon d'un tel matériau soumis à une contrainte mécanique dans un environnement oxydant. L'étude porte sur la mise en place d'un couplage entre deux codes de calcul : un code d'endommagement mécanique et un code physico-chimique qui a été développé au cours de cette thèse. De façon inédite, on se place dans la géométrie 2D d'un plan de fissure, partant d'une image détaillée de l'arrangement des constituants (fibres, interphases, matrice multi-couche). Les différentes parties du programme ont été validées indépendamment et des résultats du calcul complet sont présentés et discutés. / Self-Healing Ceramics Matrix Composites (HT-CMC) are developed since several years for theirapplication in aeronautic applications and are interesting for their good resistance to criticalenvironments. As part of a study program of the HT-CMC behavior and their damagemechanisms, the objective of this thesis is to build a multi-physics numerical model todetermine the lifetime of a sample such a material subjected to a mechanical stress in anoxidizing environment. The study focuses on the establishment of a coupling between twocomputer codes: a code of mechanical damage and a physical-chemical code that wasdeveloped during this thesis. In an unprecedented way, we place ourselves in the 2D geometryof a crack plane, starting from a detailed picture of the arrangement of the components (fiber,interphase, multi-layer matrix). The different parts of the code have been independentlyvalidated and the results of the complete calculation are presented and discussed.