Heat transfer characteristics of flowing and stationary particle bed type fusion reactor blankets

Thesis/Dissertation · Fri Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1982

OSTI ID:5803597

Nietert, R E

The heat transfer characteristics of flowing and stationary packed particle beds have recently become of interest in connection with conceptual designs of fusion reactor blankets. A detailed literature survey has shown that the processes taking place in such beds are not fully understood despite their widespread use in the chemical industry and other engineering disciplines for more than five decades. In this study, two experimental investigations were pursued. In the first, a heat transfer loop was constructed through which glass microspheres were allowed to flow by gravity at controlled rates through an electrically heated stainless steel tubular test section. The falling bed was treated as a pseudofluid and extensive data for the local convective heat transfer coefficient and Nusselt number were obtained for the thermal entrance region of heated tubes. In the second, an annular packed bed was constructed in which heat was applied through the outer wall by electric heating of a stainless steel tube. Cooling occurred at the inner wall of the annular bed by flowing air through the central tube. A second air stream was allowed to flow through the voids of the packed bed. The information obtained in this study are necessary for the design of flowing bed type fusion reactor blankets.

• Research Organization: Wisconsin Univ., Madison (USA)
• OSTI ID: 5803597
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
700201* -- Fusion Power Plant Technology-- Blanket Engineering
BREEDING BLANKETS
DESIGN
ENERGY TRANSFER
FLUID FLOW
GLASS
HEAT TRANSFER
MICROSPHERES
PACKED BED
REACTOR COMPONENTS
THERMONUCLEAR REACTORS