Effective thermal conductivity measurements relevant to deep borehole nuclear waste disposal

Thesis (S.M. and S.B.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Nuclear Science and Engineering, 2007.

Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Shaikh, Samina
Other Authors: Michael J. Driscoll.
Format: Thesis
Language:eng
Published: Massachusetts Institute of Technology 2008
Subjects:
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/41301
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author Shaikh, Samina
author2 Michael J. Driscoll.
author_facet Michael J. Driscoll.
Shaikh, Samina
author_sort Shaikh, Samina
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description Thesis (S.M. and S.B.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Nuclear Science and Engineering, 2007.
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spelling mit-1721.1/413012019-04-12T09:42:14Z Effective thermal conductivity measurements relevant to deep borehole nuclear waste disposal Shaikh, Samina Michael J. Driscoll. Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dept. of Nuclear Science and Engineering. Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dept. of Nuclear Science and Engineering. Nuclear Science and Engineering. Thesis (S.M. and S.B.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Nuclear Science and Engineering, 2007. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 106-107). The objective of this work was to measure the effective thermal conductivity of a number of materials (particle beds, and fluids) proposed for use in and around canisters for disposal of high level nuclear waste in deep boreholes. This information is required to insure that waste temperatures will not exceed tolerable limits. Such experimental verification is essential because analytical models and empirical correlations can not accurately predict effective thermal conductivities for complex configurations of poorly characterized media, such as beds of irregular particles of mixed sizes. The experimental apparatus consisted of a 2.54 cm. diameter cylindrical heater (heated length = 0.5 m) , surrounded by a 5.0 cm inner diameter steel tube. Six pairs of thermocouples were located axially on the inside of the heater sheath, and in grooves on the air-fan-cooled outer tube. Test media were used to fill the annular gap, and the temperature drop across the gap measured at several power levels covering the range of heat fluxes expected on a waste canister soon after emplacement. Values of effective thermal conductivity were measured for air, water; particle beds of sand, SiC, graphite and aluminum; and an air gap subdivided by a thin metal sleeve insert. Results are compared to literature values and analytical models for conduction, convection and radiation. Agreement within a factor of 2 was common, and the results confirm the adequacy, and reduce the uncertainty of prior borehole system design calculations. All particle bed data fell between 0.3 and 0.5 W/moC, hence other attributes can determine usage. by Samina Shaikh. S.M.and S.B. 2008-04-23T14:43:20Z 2008-04-23T14:43:20Z 2007 2007 Thesis http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/41301 214283088 eng M.I.T. theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from this source for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written permission. See provided URL for inquiries about permission. http://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/7582 107 leaves: application/pdf Massachusetts Institute of Technology
spellingShingle Nuclear Science and Engineering.
Shaikh, Samina
Effective thermal conductivity measurements relevant to deep borehole nuclear waste disposal
title Effective thermal conductivity measurements relevant to deep borehole nuclear waste disposal
title_full Effective thermal conductivity measurements relevant to deep borehole nuclear waste disposal
title_fullStr Effective thermal conductivity measurements relevant to deep borehole nuclear waste disposal
title_full_unstemmed Effective thermal conductivity measurements relevant to deep borehole nuclear waste disposal
title_short Effective thermal conductivity measurements relevant to deep borehole nuclear waste disposal
title_sort effective thermal conductivity measurements relevant to deep borehole nuclear waste disposal
topic Nuclear Science and Engineering.
url http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/41301
work_keys_str_mv AT shaikhsamina effectivethermalconductivitymeasurementsrelevanttodeepboreholenuclearwastedisposal