Kinetic Modeling and Analysis of Fuel Element Pneumatic Lifting System in Pebble Bed Reactors

Thousands of fuel elements in pebble-bed reactor are lifted one by one from the bottom to the top of the core by pneumatic conveying every day. Any failure in the transportation process may lead to a safety accident. In order to ensure the safe and reliable operation of the reactor, it is important...

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Main Authors: Peng Shen, Runfeng Zhang, Zhigang Wang, Jiangyi Chen
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2023-01-01
Series:Applied Sciences
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/13/3/1486
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author Peng Shen
Runfeng Zhang
Zhigang Wang
Jiangyi Chen
author_facet Peng Shen
Runfeng Zhang
Zhigang Wang
Jiangyi Chen
author_sort Peng Shen
collection DOAJ
description Thousands of fuel elements in pebble-bed reactor are lifted one by one from the bottom to the top of the core by pneumatic conveying every day. Any failure in the transportation process may lead to a safety accident. In order to ensure the safe and reliable operation of the reactor, it is important to model and analyze the motion process of the fuel element. In this paper, the kinetic modeling of the motion process of fuel elements was carried out, and the kinetic model of atypical bends was refined. Then, numerical simulation was used to analyze the motion characteristics of the fuel element in the acceleration-pipe section, vertical lifting-pipe section, and deceleration section, and it was found that with the increase in spherical/pipe-diameter ratio and pipe-inclination angle the acceleration and final velocity of the fuel-element acceleration process was larger, with the increase in spherical/pipe-diameter ratio and the decrease in recovery coefficient the collision frequency between the fuel element and pipe was reduced, and with the decrease in spherical/pipe-diameter ratio and bend radius the deceleration effect of the fuel element was more obvious. Finally, the accuracy of the model was verified on the experimental platform. This study provides several suggestions for the design and structural optimization of the pneumatic lifting system for pebble-bed-reactor fuel elements and provides a direction for subsequent research.
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spelling doaj.art-0b74c2dff3e742c79635e14c66c650412023-11-16T16:06:10ZengMDPI AGApplied Sciences2076-34172023-01-01133148610.3390/app13031486Kinetic Modeling and Analysis of Fuel Element Pneumatic Lifting System in Pebble Bed ReactorsPeng Shen0Runfeng Zhang1Zhigang Wang2Jiangyi Chen3School of Mechanical and Power Engineering, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, ChinaSchool of Mechanical and Power Engineering, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, ChinaSchool of Mechanical Engineering, Anyang Institute University, Anyang 455000, ChinaSchool of Mechanical and Power Engineering, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, ChinaThousands of fuel elements in pebble-bed reactor are lifted one by one from the bottom to the top of the core by pneumatic conveying every day. Any failure in the transportation process may lead to a safety accident. In order to ensure the safe and reliable operation of the reactor, it is important to model and analyze the motion process of the fuel element. In this paper, the kinetic modeling of the motion process of fuel elements was carried out, and the kinetic model of atypical bends was refined. Then, numerical simulation was used to analyze the motion characteristics of the fuel element in the acceleration-pipe section, vertical lifting-pipe section, and deceleration section, and it was found that with the increase in spherical/pipe-diameter ratio and pipe-inclination angle the acceleration and final velocity of the fuel-element acceleration process was larger, with the increase in spherical/pipe-diameter ratio and the decrease in recovery coefficient the collision frequency between the fuel element and pipe was reduced, and with the decrease in spherical/pipe-diameter ratio and bend radius the deceleration effect of the fuel element was more obvious. Finally, the accuracy of the model was verified on the experimental platform. This study provides several suggestions for the design and structural optimization of the pneumatic lifting system for pebble-bed-reactor fuel elements and provides a direction for subsequent research.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/13/3/1486pebble-bed reactoratypical bendskinetic modelfuel-element pneumatic lifting system
spellingShingle Peng Shen
Runfeng Zhang
Zhigang Wang
Jiangyi Chen
Kinetic Modeling and Analysis of Fuel Element Pneumatic Lifting System in Pebble Bed Reactors
Applied Sciences
pebble-bed reactor
atypical bends
kinetic model
fuel-element pneumatic lifting system
title Kinetic Modeling and Analysis of Fuel Element Pneumatic Lifting System in Pebble Bed Reactors
title_full Kinetic Modeling and Analysis of Fuel Element Pneumatic Lifting System in Pebble Bed Reactors
title_fullStr Kinetic Modeling and Analysis of Fuel Element Pneumatic Lifting System in Pebble Bed Reactors
title_full_unstemmed Kinetic Modeling and Analysis of Fuel Element Pneumatic Lifting System in Pebble Bed Reactors
title_short Kinetic Modeling and Analysis of Fuel Element Pneumatic Lifting System in Pebble Bed Reactors
title_sort kinetic modeling and analysis of fuel element pneumatic lifting system in pebble bed reactors
topic pebble-bed reactor
atypical bends
kinetic model
fuel-element pneumatic lifting system
url https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/13/3/1486
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AT runfengzhang kineticmodelingandanalysisoffuelelementpneumaticliftingsysteminpebblebedreactors
AT zhigangwang kineticmodelingandanalysisoffuelelementpneumaticliftingsysteminpebblebedreactors
AT jiangyichen kineticmodelingandanalysisoffuelelementpneumaticliftingsysteminpebblebedreactors