Numerical investigation of separation and flow characteristics of gas-liquid separators for lithium-cooled space nuclear reactor

IF 3.3 3区工程技术 Q1 NUCLEAR SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

Progress in Nuclear Energy Pub Date : 2025-03-01 DOI:10.1016/j.pnucene.2025.105682

Wendong Li , Ming Jin , Chao Liu , Yong Song , Yang Li , Danna Zhou , Tao Zhou , Jieqiong Jiang

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

High-power space reactors utilizing liquid lithium as a coolant exhibit significant potential due to the high specific power, extended operational life, and reduced environmental dependence. A significant issue is that liquid lithium generates helium under core irradiation. Such phenomenon provokes challenges on separating and storing helium in a microgravity environment. To solve this problem, the current work proposes a specific design for a passive centrifugal Gas-Liquid Separator (GLS). The performance of the designed GLS was verified and validated by parametric investigations using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) techniques. The performance parameters, i.e., flow, separation, and gas-storage were analyzed in detail. The results confirmed that the stable separation and storage of helium can be achieved successfully by the GLS. The mechanisms of separation and gas-storage were revealed through dynamic gas-liquid interface variations, static pressure distribution, three-dimensional streamlines, axial and tangential velocities, and velocity magnitudes. The characteristics of flow, separation, and gas-storage within the GLS were precisely identified. According to the analysis of the three-dimensional flow field, gas within the gas-storage zone of the GLS exhibited stable and slow internal circulation, which was the critical indicator for maintaining effective gas-storage. Flow rate, helix angle (θ_s) and height to diameter ratio (H/D_s) were critical parameters influencing the separation and gas-storage performance of GLS. Notably, with varying flow rates, separation efficiency and maximum gas storage mass exhibited opposite variation trends. Decreasing θ_s can significantly enhance the separation and gas storage capabilities of the GLS. When the volume of gas-storage zone remains constant, variations in H/D_s lead to non-monotonic changes in tangential velocity and axial velocity, which lead to opposite effects on maximum gas storage mass and separation efficiency.

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来源期刊

Progress in Nuclear Energy 工程技术-核科学技术

CiteScore

5.30

自引率

14.80%

发文量

331

审稿时长

3.5 months

期刊介绍： Progress in Nuclear Energy is an international review journal covering all aspects of nuclear science and engineering. In keeping with the maturity of nuclear power, articles on safety, siting and environmental problems are encouraged, as are those associated with economics and fuel management. However, basic physics and engineering will remain an important aspect of the editorial policy. Articles published are either of a review nature or present new material in more depth. They are aimed at researchers and technically-oriented managers working in the nuclear energy field. Please note the following: 1) PNE seeks high quality research papers which are medium to long in length. Short research papers should be submitted to the journal Annals in Nuclear Energy. 2) PNE reserves the right to reject papers which are based solely on routine application of computer codes used to produce reactor designs or explain existing reactor phenomena. Such papers, although worthy, are best left as laboratory reports whereas Progress in Nuclear Energy seeks papers of originality, which are archival in nature, in the fields of mathematical and experimental nuclear technology, including fission, fusion (blanket physics, radiation damage), safety, materials aspects, economics, etc. 3) Review papers, which may occasionally be invited, are particularly sought by the journal in these fields.