Novel design of a multifunctional modular decay tank system with embedded particulate separation capability

IF 2.1 3区工程技术 Q1 NUCLEAR SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

Nuclear Engineering and Design Pub Date : 2025-09-16 DOI:10.1016/j.nucengdes.2025.114474

Hongyu Chen, Nan Qian, Xingbo Han, Youshi Zeng, Wei Liu, Xinxin Chu

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

This paper presents a novel, multifunctional modular decay tank system designed for thorium-based molten salt reactors (TMSRs) to enhance off-gas management by integrating particulate separation capabilities. TMSRs, while offering inherent safety advantages and improved neutron economy due to direct fission product release into molten salt, necessitate robust off-gas handling to mitigate operational challenges. Existing off-gas systems are susceptible to particulate clogging in downstream components like adsorption beds, risking system failures and increasing radiation exposure. This research addresses these limitations by proposing a decay tank that not only provides adequate residence time for short-lived isotope decay but also actively separates particulate matter from the gas stream, thereby reducing downstream purification burden and improving system reliability.

The proposed decay tank is a cubic enclosure with internal baffling that creates a complex, meandering flow path. This design prolongs off-gas residence time, with computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations confirming residence times approximating five hours for helium and argon, sufficient for significant radioactive decay. Crucially, the baffle geometry is engineered to induce low-velocity zones, promoting gravitational settling of particulate matter. Lagrangian multiphase modeling simulated the behavior of molten salt particles (1–10 μm) within the flow field. Results demonstrate that the system effectively separates and retains particles with diameters of 2.5 μm and larger, a critical capability for preventing clogging in subsequent filtration and adsorption stages.

Furthermore, the study investigated the tank’s thermal performance, revealing limited heat transfer capability when configured as a heat exchanger. However, the design strategically utilizes an internal cylindrical “tube-side” region to house essential downstream components such as coolers and charcoal beds. This re-purposing enables a modular off-gas treatment unit concept, where the decay tank acts as a consolidated housing for the entire system. This modular approach significantly simplifies integration, installation, and maintenance, reducing the need for individual component shielding and containment. The consolidated casing acts as a primary containment barrier, enhancing safety and reducing overall system complexity. The design facilitates pre-fabrication of modules, streamlining on-site assembly and reducing installation time and cost. This research pioneers a integrated approach to off-gas management for TMSRs, offering enhanced safety, improved reliability, and a streamlined design pathway for next-generation nuclear reactors. Future work will focus on optimizing sub-component designs and further evaluating separation efficiency for varying gas and particle compositions.

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具有嵌入式颗粒分离能力的多功能模块化衰变罐系统的新设计

本文提出了一种新型的多功能模块化衰变罐系统，该系统设计用于钍基熔盐反应器（TMSRs），通过集成颗粒分离能力来加强废气管理。tmsr虽然具有固有的安全优势，并且由于裂变产物直接释放到熔盐中而提高了中子经济性，但需要强大的废气处理来减轻操作挑战。现有的废气系统容易受到吸附床等下游组件的颗粒堵塞，有可能导致系统故障并增加辐射暴露。本研究通过提出一种衰变槽来解决这些限制，该衰变槽不仅为短寿命同位素衰变提供足够的停留时间，而且还能主动从气流中分离颗粒物，从而减少下游净化负担，提高系统可靠性。提议的衰变槽是一个带有内部挡板的立方体外壳，创造了一个复杂的蜿蜒的流动路径。这种设计延长了废气停留时间，计算流体动力学（CFD）模拟证实，氦气和氩气的停留时间约为5小时，足以产生显著的放射性衰变。至关重要的是，挡板的几何形状被设计成诱导低速区，促进颗粒物质的重力沉降。拉格朗日多相模型模拟了熔盐颗粒（1 ~ 10 μm）在流场中的行为。结果表明，该系统能有效分离和保留直径大于2.5 μm的颗粒，这是防止后续过滤和吸附阶段堵塞的关键能力。此外，该研究还调查了水箱的热性能，揭示了当配置为热交换器时，传热能力有限。然而，该设计战略性地利用了内部圆柱形“管侧”区域来容纳重要的下游组件，如冷却器和木炭床。这种重新利用实现了模块化废气处理单元的概念，其中衰变罐作为整个系统的巩固外壳。这种模块化方法大大简化了集成、安装和维护，减少了对单个组件屏蔽和密封的需求。固化套管作为主要的密封屏障，提高了安全性，降低了整个系统的复杂性。该设计便于模块的预制，简化了现场组装，减少了安装时间和成本。这项研究开创了tmsr废气管理的综合方法，为下一代核反应堆提供了更高的安全性、更高的可靠性和简化的设计途径。未来的工作将集中在优化子组件设计和进一步评估不同气体和颗粒组成的分离效率。

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来源期刊

Nuclear Engineering and Design 工程技术-核科学技术

CiteScore

3.40

自引率

11.80%

发文量

377

审稿时长

5 months

期刊介绍： Nuclear Engineering and Design covers the wide range of disciplines involved in the engineering, design, safety and construction of nuclear fission reactors. The Editors welcome papers both on applied and innovative aspects and developments in nuclear science and technology. Fundamentals of Reactor Design include: • Thermal-Hydraulics and Core Physics • Safety Analysis, Risk Assessment (PSA) • Structural and Mechanical Engineering • Materials Science • Fuel Behavior and Design • Structural Plant Design • Engineering of Reactor Components • Experiments Aspects beyond fundamentals of Reactor Design covered: • Accident Mitigation Measures • Reactor Control Systems • Licensing Issues • Safeguard Engineering • Economy of Plants • Reprocessing / Waste Disposal • Applications of Nuclear Energy • Maintenance • Decommissioning Papers on new reactor ideas and developments (Generation IV reactors) such as inherently safe modular HTRs, High Performance LWRs/HWRs and LMFBs/GFR will be considered; Actinide Burners, Accelerator Driven Systems, Energy Amplifiers and other special designs of power and research reactors and their applications are also encouraged.