Publication:
Measuring the boiling curves of chloride eutectics relevant in MSR designs

dc.contributor.advisor Cancelos Mancini, Silvina
dc.contributor.author González Hernández, Andres I.
dc.contributor.college College of Engineering
dc.contributor.committee Marin Martin , Carlos
dc.contributor.committee Gutierrez, Jorge Gustavo
dc.contributor.department Department of Mechanical Engineering
dc.contributor.representative Perez Muñoz, Fernando J.
dc.date.accessioned 2023-05-24T15:56:12Z
dc.date.available 2023-05-24T15:56:12Z
dc.date.issued 2023-04-03
dc.description.abstract IV-Generation nuclear reactors, like the Molten Salt Reactor, provide advantages such as low-pressure vessels, improved thermal efficiencies, and safety features like freeze valve safety systems and continuous fuel replacement. However, their design and behavior must be rigorously tested to ensure their safe and efficient operation over time. This work seeks to enhance the use of molten chloride-cooled reactors by measuring key parameters such as the Onset of Nucleate Boiling (ONB), Critical Heat Flux (CHF), and heat transfer coefficient of their eutectic mixtures boiling curves. The experimental approach used platinum wire as a joule heating element placed inside an isothermal pool of molten salt at subcooled conditions. From this: (i) the pool temperature, (ii) the wire resistivity, and (iii) the surface temperature of the wire was obtained. Initial measurements on the NaCl-KCl boiling curve suggest a CHF point of 4 MW/m2, four times the value of water at atmospheric pressure and saturated conditions.
dc.description.abstract Los reactores nucleares de IV-Generación, como el reactor de sales fundidas, brindan ventajas en sus recipientes de baja presión, eficiencias térmicas y características de seguridad como en válvulas de congelación y reemplazo continuo de combustible. Sin embargo, su diseño y comportamiento deben ser probados rigurosamente para garantizar su operación segura y eficiente. Este trabajo busca mejorar el uso de reactores con cloruro fundido midiendo parámetros claves en sus curvas de ebullición como el inicio del nucleado, el flujo de calor crítico y el coeficiente de transferencia de calor. Experimentalmente se usó alambre de platino como un elemento de calentamiento colocado dentro de una piscina isotérmica de sal fundida en condiciones subenfriadas. A partir de esto se obtuvieron: (i) la temperatura de la piscina, (ii) la resistividad del alambre, y (iii) la temperatura de la superficie del alambre. Las mediciones iniciales en NaCl-KCl sugieren un punto CHF de 4 MW/m2, cuatro veces el valor del agua a presión atmosférica y en condiciones de saturación.
dc.description.graduationSemester Spring
dc.description.graduationYear 2023
dc.description.sponsorship Department of Energy (DOE)- DE-NE0009179; Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC)- 31310019M0038
dc.identifier.uri https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11801/3531
dc.language.iso en
dc.rights Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 United States *
dc.rights.holder (c) 2023 Andres I. González Hernández
dc.rights.uri http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/us/ *
dc.subject Molten salts
dc.subject MSRs
dc.subject Boiling Curve
dc.subject.lcsh Eutectics
dc.subject.lcsh Boiling-points
dc.subject.lcsh Molten salt reactors
dc.subject.lcsh Pressurized water reactors - Critical heat flux
dc.subject.lcsh Chlorides - Cooling
dc.title Measuring the boiling curves of chloride eutectics relevant in MSR designs
dc.type Thesis
dspace.entity.type Publication
thesis.degree.discipline Mechanical Engineering
thesis.degree.level M.S.
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