Formation and transport of lead oxide in a non-isothermal lead-bismutheutectic loop

Kristof Gladinez; Kris Rosseel; Jun Lim; Alessandro Marino; Geraldine Heynderickx; Alexander Aerts

doi:10.1016/j.nucengdes.2019.04.021

Formation and transport of lead oxide in a non-isothermal lead-bismutheutectic loop

Kristof Gladinez, Kris Rosseel, Jun Lim, Alessandro Marino, Geraldine Heynderickx, Alexander Aerts

Research output › peer-review

Abstract

Lead oxide (PbO) formation can occur in Lead-Bismuth Eutectic (LBE)-cooled nuclear systems in case of oxygen ingress or temperature decrease of the coolant beyond the normal operation ranges. In the present work the formation of lead oxide in an actively cooled LBE flow is studied. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) is used to predict the nucleation, growth and dissolution of PbO particles. Solid oxide particles are modeled as a pseudocontinuous phase, using the Kinetic Theory of Granular Flow (KTGF) to account for particle-flow interaction. The particle size distribution (PSD) is accounted for using Population Balance Equations/Models (PBE/PBM). The results obtained from the model are qualitatively in good agreement with experimental results obtained in the MEXICO loop at SCK·CEN. The calculated PSD reveals that the majority of the oxide particles are expected to be in the sub-micron range. Experimental results indicate that in the studied conditions PbO nucleates in the LBE bulk leading to suspended particles in the LBE flow.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	78-85
Number of pages	7
Journal	Nuclear Engineering and Design
Volume	349
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nucengdes.2019.04.021
State	Published - 24 Apr 2019

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@article{be4e2866270f4c388bd153c4b019adb1,

title = "Formation and transport of lead oxide in a non-isothermal lead-bismutheutectic loop",

abstract = "Lead oxide (PbO) formation can occur in Lead-Bismuth Eutectic (LBE)-cooled nuclear systems in case of oxygen ingress or temperature decrease of the coolant beyond the normal operation ranges. In the present work the formation of lead oxide in an actively cooled LBE flow is studied. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) is used to predict the nucleation, growth and dissolution of PbO particles. Solid oxide particles are modeled as a pseudocontinuous phase, using the Kinetic Theory of Granular Flow (KTGF) to account for particle-flow interaction. The particle size distribution (PSD) is accounted for using Population Balance Equations/Models (PBE/PBM). The results obtained from the model are qualitatively in good agreement with experimental results obtained in the MEXICO loop at SCK·CEN. The calculated PSD reveals that the majority of the oxide particles are expected to be in the sub-micron range. Experimental results indicate that in the studied conditions PbO nucleates in the LBE bulk leading to suspended particles in the LBE flow.",

keywords = "Lead-bismuth eutectic, Accelerator Driven System, Nucleation, Oxidation, KTGF, Lead oxide",

author = "Kristof Gladinez and Kris Rosseel and Jun Lim and Alessandro Marino and Geraldine Heynderickx and Alexander Aerts",

note = "Score=10",

year = "2019",

month = apr,

day = "24",

doi = "10.1016/j.nucengdes.2019.04.021",

language = "English",

volume = "349",

pages = "78--85",

journal = "Nuclear Engineering and Design",

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TY - JOUR

T1 - Formation and transport of lead oxide in a non-isothermal lead-bismutheutectic loop

AU - Gladinez, Kristof

AU - Rosseel, Kris

AU - Lim, Jun

AU - Marino, Alessandro

AU - Heynderickx, Geraldine

AU - Aerts, Alexander

N1 - Score=10

PY - 2019/4/24

Y1 - 2019/4/24

N2 - Lead oxide (PbO) formation can occur in Lead-Bismuth Eutectic (LBE)-cooled nuclear systems in case of oxygen ingress or temperature decrease of the coolant beyond the normal operation ranges. In the present work the formation of lead oxide in an actively cooled LBE flow is studied. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) is used to predict the nucleation, growth and dissolution of PbO particles. Solid oxide particles are modeled as a pseudocontinuous phase, using the Kinetic Theory of Granular Flow (KTGF) to account for particle-flow interaction. The particle size distribution (PSD) is accounted for using Population Balance Equations/Models (PBE/PBM). The results obtained from the model are qualitatively in good agreement with experimental results obtained in the MEXICO loop at SCK·CEN. The calculated PSD reveals that the majority of the oxide particles are expected to be in the sub-micron range. Experimental results indicate that in the studied conditions PbO nucleates in the LBE bulk leading to suspended particles in the LBE flow.

AB - Lead oxide (PbO) formation can occur in Lead-Bismuth Eutectic (LBE)-cooled nuclear systems in case of oxygen ingress or temperature decrease of the coolant beyond the normal operation ranges. In the present work the formation of lead oxide in an actively cooled LBE flow is studied. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) is used to predict the nucleation, growth and dissolution of PbO particles. Solid oxide particles are modeled as a pseudocontinuous phase, using the Kinetic Theory of Granular Flow (KTGF) to account for particle-flow interaction. The particle size distribution (PSD) is accounted for using Population Balance Equations/Models (PBE/PBM). The results obtained from the model are qualitatively in good agreement with experimental results obtained in the MEXICO loop at SCK·CEN. The calculated PSD reveals that the majority of the oxide particles are expected to be in the sub-micron range. Experimental results indicate that in the studied conditions PbO nucleates in the LBE bulk leading to suspended particles in the LBE flow.

KW - Lead-bismuth eutectic

KW - Accelerator Driven System

KW - Nucleation

KW - Oxidation

KW - KTGF

KW - Lead oxide

UR - http://ecm.sckcen.be/OTCS/llisapi.dll/open/34629334

U2 - 10.1016/j.nucengdes.2019.04.021

DO - 10.1016/j.nucengdes.2019.04.021

M3 - Article

SN - 0029-5493

VL - 349

SP - 78

EP - 85

JO - Nuclear Engineering and Design

JF - Nuclear Engineering and Design

ER -