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Materials Science & Technology
The objectives of MSTD are: promote the advancement of materials science in Nuclear Science Technology; support the multidisciplines which constitute it; encourage research by providing a forum for the presentation, exchange, and documentation of relevant information; promote the interaction and communication among its members; and recognize and reward its members for significant contributions to the field of materials science in nuclear technology.
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2024 ANS Annual Conference
June 16–19, 2024
Las Vegas, NV|Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino
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The Standards Committee is responsible for the development and maintenance of voluntary consensus standards that address the design, analysis, and operation of components, systems, and facilities related to the application of nuclear science and technology. Find out What’s New, check out the Standards Store, or Get Involved today!
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Can hydrogen be the transportation fuel in an otherwise nuclear economy?
Let’s face it: The global economy should be powered primarily by nuclear power. And it probably will by the end of this century, with a still-significant assist from renewables and hydro. Once nuclear systems are dominant, the costs come down to where gas is now; and when carbon emissions are reduced to a small portion of their present state, it will become obvious that most other sources are only good in niche settings. I mean, why use small modular reactors to load-follow when they can just produce that power instead of buffering it?
S. N. Ritchey, M. Solom, O. Draznin, I. Choutapalli, K. Vierow
Nuclear Technology | Volume 175 | Number 3 | September 2011 | Pages 529-537
Technical Paper | NURETH-13 Special / Thermal Hydraulics | doi.org/10.13182/NT11-A12504
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
An experimental study on flooding in a large-diameter tube is being conducted. In a countercurrent, two-phase-flow system, flooding can be defined as the onset of flow reversal of the liquid component that results in cocurrent flow. Flooding can be perceived as a limit to two-phase countercurrent flow, meaning that pairs of liquid and gas flow rates exist that define the envelope for stable countercurrent flow for a given system. Flooding in the AP600 pressurizer surge line can affect the vessel refill rate following a small-break loss-of-coolant accident. Analysis of hypothetical severe accidents with current simplified flooding models shows that these models represent the largest uncertainty in steam generator tube creep rupture. During a hypothetical station blackout scenario without auxiliary feedwater recovery, should the hot leg become voided, the pressurizer liquid will drain to the hot leg, and flooding may occur in the surge line. Experiments were conducted using a 76.2-mm (3-in.)-diam tube along with subcooled water and superheated steam as the working fluids at atmospheric pressure. Water flows down the inside of the tube as an annulus while the steam flows upward in the middle. Water flow rates vary from 0.00022 to 0.00076 m3 /s (3.5 to 12 gal/min), and the water inlet temperature is [approximately]70°C. The steam inlet temperature is [approximately]110°C. It was found that a larger steam flow rate was needed to achieve flooding for a lower water flow rate and for a higher water flow rate. These unique data for flooding in steam-water systems in large-diameter tubes will reduce uncertainty in flooding models currently utilized in reactor safety codes.