Thermal Modeling of the Sandia Flinabe (LiF-BeF{sub 2}-NaF) Experiments

Journal Article · Fri Apr 15 04:00:00 EDT 2005 · Fusion Science and Technology

OSTI ID:20849921

Nygren, R E ^[1]

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1. Sandia National Laboratories (United States)

Investigations of designs with a flowing free-surface molten salt as a first wall in the Advanced Power Extraction (APEX) Program led to questions concerning the liquidus temperature and solidification processes for the [1:1:1] composition in the LiF, BeF{sub 2} and NaF system. Sandia experiments, reported in this conference, showed a liquidus temperature near 425 deg. C for the [1:1:1] composition. We also identified other compositions that showed congruent (eutectic) solidification and had sufficiently low melting temperatures ({approx}305-320 deg, C) to be useful in this application. Further characterization of these materials is necessary to evaluate their potential. This paper summarizes a 3-D finite element analysis of the experiment that evaluates thermal gradients in the salt pool and crucible, reproduces the 'thermal plateau' associated with the isothermal freezing of a eutectic, and compares the calculated temperatures with readings from the three thermocouples in the experiment.

• OSTI ID: 20849921
• Journal Information: Fusion Science and Technology, Journal Name: Fusion Science and Technology Journal Issue: 3 Vol. 47; ISSN 1536-1055
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
BERYLLIUM FLUORIDES
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
DESIGN
EUTECTICS
FINITE ELEMENT METHOD
FIRST WALL
FREEZING
LITHIUM FLUORIDES
MELTING POINTS
MOLTEN SALTS
SIMULATION
SODIUM FLUORIDES
SOLIDIFICATION
TEMPERATURE GRADIENTS
THERMOCOUPLES
THERMONUCLEAR REACTOR MATERIALS
THERMONUCLEAR REACTORS