Two-phase reduced gravity experiments for a space reactor design

Conference · Fri Aug 01 04:00:00 EDT 1986

OSTI ID:6174710

Antoniak, Z I

Future space missions envision the use of large nuclear reactors utilizing either a single or a two-phase alkali-metal working fluid. The design and analysis of such reactors require state-of-the-art computer codes that can properly treat alkali-metal flow and heat transfer in a reduced-gravity environment. New flow regime maps, models, and correlations are required if the codes are to be successfully applied to reduced-gravity flow and heat transfer. General plans are put forth for the reduced-gravity experiments which will have to be performed, at NASA facilities, with benign fluids. Data from the reduced-gravity experiments with innocuous fluids are to be combined with normal gravity data from two-phase alkali-metal experiments. Because these reduced-gravity experiments will be very basic, and will employ small test loops of simple geometry, a large measure of commonality exists between them and experiments planned by other organizations. It is recommended that a committee be formed, to coordinate all ongoing and planned reduced gravity flow experiments.

• Research Organization: Pacific Northwest Lab., Richland, WA (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: AC06-76RL01830
• OSTI ID: 6174710
• Report Number(s): PNL-SA-14228; CONF-8609146-1; ON: DE86015530
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS
220600* -- Nuclear Reactor Technology-- Research
Test & Experimental Reactors
ALKALI METALS
BATTELLE PACIFIC NORTHWEST LABORATORIES
COOLING SYSTEMS
ELEMENTS
ENERGY SYSTEMS
ENERGY TRANSFER
FLOW MODELS
FLUID MECHANICS
HEAT TRANSFER
HYDRAULICS
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
MECHANICS
METALS
MOBILE REACTORS
NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
NESDPS Office of Nuclear Energy Space and Defense Power Systems
POWER REACTORS
REACTOR COMPONENTS
REACTOR COOLING SYSTEMS
REACTORS
SPACE POWER REACTORS
US DOE
US ERDA
US ORGANIZATIONS
WEIGHTLESSNESS