Coolant Channel Design for Additively Manufactured Reactor Cores

Weinmeister, Justin; Jesse, Casey J.; Jain, Prashant; Ade, Brian J.; Schappel, Danny

doi:10.1080/00295639.2022.2096999

Coolant Channel Design for Additively Manufactured Reactor Cores

Journal Article · Tue Jul 26 00:00:00 EDT 2022 · Nuclear Science and Engineering

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1080/00295639.2022.2096999· OSTI ID:1885386

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Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
Idaho National Lab. (INL), Idaho Falls, ID (United States)

Additive manufacturing (AM) methods are currently being explored for applications in nuclear reactors to make advanced reactors more efficient, safe, and reliable. The Transformational Challenge Reactor (TCR) program has explored AM for nuclear by designing a high-temperature gas reactor (HTGR) using an AM silicon carbide fuel form with uranium nitride–tristructural isotropic fuel. In this study, we detail the design process for the TCR fuel form’s coolant channels using computational fluid dynamics models with conjugate heat transfer. Additionally, this work discusses how these models were interfaced with other design teams, project milestones, and the agile design method used to mature the reactor design. The methodology deployed was able to create a channel design with lower maximum fuel temperatures and thermal stresses in the fuel form over traditional channel designs that can be manufactured subtractively. These results were achieved with only small manufacturing penalties. Results are discussed and presented on lessons learned for designing AM components for nuclear reactors. Finally, areas of opportunity are discussed for advanced design tools to further automate design activities and optimize reactors with fewer built-in assumptions.

Research Organization:: Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE Office of Nuclear Energy (NE)

Grant/Contract Number:: AC05-00OR22725

OSTI ID:: 1885386

Journal Information:: Nuclear Science and Engineering, Journal Name: Nuclear Science and Engineering Journal Issue: 12 Vol. 196; ISSN 0029-5639

Publisher:: Taylor & FrancisCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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TCR
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Coolant Channel Design for Additively Manufactured Reactor Cores

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