Investigation of liquid metal heat pipes for cooling small modular nuclear reactors

该提案的主要目的是开发数学工具来分析用于小型模块反应堆(SMR)热冷却的液态金属热管的性能。该项目将与加拿大核实验室(CNL)合作实施。SMR有很大的潜力用不排放的基本负荷反应堆取代现有的燃煤电厂，为重工业(油砂和矿山)提供更清洁的热量和电力。SMR还可以在偏远的北部社区提供区域供暖和住宅电力，那里的发电目前依赖昂贵且污染严重的柴油。可靠、高性价比的能源也是打开北方经济发展机遇的关键。因此，SMR技术目前被列为中国北车的战略举措之一。 核反应堆产生大量的热量，而目前的热控制方法主要依靠水冷却。水冷有几个缺点，就像福岛事故中所经历的那样。尽可能地消除对主动系统的需求是新一代反应堆设计的目标之一。因此，热管技术是一种有吸引力的替代方案，因为它们是被动操作和非常低的维护要求。 在本项目中，将开发两种类型的数学模型：一种是用于快速分析热管特性的一维模型，另一种是用于深入分析热管热物理的更复杂的三维模型。该模型将通过液态金属热管获得的数据进行验证。最后，对热管的失效模式进行了系统级仿真，验证了液态金属热管满足散热要求。

The main objective of this proposal is to develop mathematical tools to analyze the performance of liquid metal heat pipes for the thermal cooling of Small Modular Reactors (SMR). The project will be carried out in partnership with the Canadian Nuclear Laboratories (CNL). SMRs have a significant potential to replace existing coal plants with non-emitting base-load reactors to provide cleaner heat and power for heavy industry (oil sands and mines). SMRs can also provide district heating and residential power in remote northern communities, where the power generation currently relies on costly and polluting diesel fuel. Reliable and cost-effective energy is also the key to opening economic development opportunities in the North. Therefore, The SMR technology is currently listed as one of the strategic initiatives of CNL. Nuclear reactors generate large amounts of heat while the current methods for thermal control mainly rely on the water cooling. Water cooling has several disadvantages as it was experienced during the Fukushima accident. Eliminating the need for active systems as much as possible is one of the goals of the new generation reactor design. Heat pipe technology is therefore an attractive alternative due to their passive operation and very low maintenance requirements. In this project, two types of mathematical models will be developed: a one-dimensional model for the quick analysis of heat pipe characteristics, and a more complex three-dimensional model for in depth analysis of the thermophysics of the heat pipes. The model will be validated by data obtained from the liquid metal heat pipes. Finally, a system level simulation will be performed to analyze heat pipe failure modes to demonstrate that liquid metal heat pipes satisfy the SMS thermal cooling requirements.