Multiphase modelling of 1D and 2D pressure wave propagation in a liquid metal using compressibleInterFoam

IF 2 3区 工程技术 Q1 NUCLEAR SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
Lorenzo Melchiorri, Amanda Piselli, Simone Siriano, Alessandro Tassone
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引用次数: 0

Abstract

This study explores the use of OpenFOAM compressibleInterFoam solver to model pressure transients during loss-of-coolant accidents (LOCAs) in liquid metal breeding blankets (LM-BBs) of fusion reactors. In LM-BBs that adopt the separately-cooled architecture, the lead-lithium eutectic alloy (PbLi) serves as a tritium breeder and carrier and neutron multiplier, while the coolant is a secondary fluid such as helium or water. Under LOCA conditions, high-pressure coolant injection into PbLi can trigger complex two-phase flows and pressure shocks, posing significant risks to blanket integrity. The presence of reactive coolants, such as water, further complicates this scenario through exothermic reactions that amplify transient pressures and produce hydrogen, challenging current modelling tools ability to capture these coupled phenomena accurately. Given these constraints, we assess OpenFOAM capability to simulate representative LOCA transients in two-dimensional (2D) geometries. Validating against analytical benchmarks, we simulate helium or steam jets entering a stagnant, low-pressure PbLi pool, examining configurations with both a gas plenum and a fully liquid metal setup. A mesh sensitivity analysis highlights the significant effect of grid resolution on wave propagation, with coarser meshes dampening wave amplitude and delaying shock transmission. The results indicate that OpenFOAM can capture the primary dynamics of two-phase interactions and pressure transients within these prototypical setups. The findings underscore OpenFOAM potential as a flexible, extensible framework for fusion safety studies, though further development is necessary to incorporate critical LOCA phenomena like phase change, solid–fluid interactions, and magnetohydrodynamic effects. This work thus lays the foundation for advancing OpenFOAM-based tools capable of informing future experimental designs and enhancing safety assessments for fusion reactor LM-BBs.
利用可压缩interfoam对液态金属中的一维和二维压力波传播进行多相模拟
本研究探索了使用OpenFOAM可压缩interfoam求解器来模拟聚变反应堆液态金属增殖包层(LM-BBs)中冷却剂丢失事故(LOCAs)期间的压力瞬变。在采用单独冷却结构的LM-BBs中,铅锂共晶合金(PbLi)作为氚增殖剂、载体和中子倍增器,而冷却剂是二次流体,如氦或水。在LOCA条件下,高压冷却剂注入PbLi会引发复杂的两相流动和压力冲击,对毯层的完整性构成重大风险。反应性冷却剂(如水)的存在,通过放热反应放大瞬态压力并产生氢气,使这种情况进一步复杂化,挑战了当前建模工具准确捕获这些耦合现象的能力。考虑到这些限制,我们评估了OpenFOAM在二维(2D)几何中模拟具有代表性的LOCA瞬态的能力。根据分析基准进行验证,我们模拟了氦气或蒸汽射流进入停滞的低压PbLi池,并检查了气体静压室和全液态金属装置的配置。网格灵敏度分析强调了网格分辨率对波传播的重要影响,更粗的网格抑制了波的振幅,延迟了冲击的传播。结果表明,OpenFOAM可以在这些原型设置中捕获两相相互作用和压力瞬态的主要动力学。研究结果强调了OpenFOAM作为一种灵活、可扩展的核聚变安全研究框架的潜力,尽管需要进一步发展,以纳入相变、固流相互作用和磁流体动力学效应等关键的LOCA现象。因此,这项工作为推进基于openfoam的工具奠定了基础,这些工具能够为未来的实验设计提供信息,并加强聚变反应堆LM-BBs的安全评估。
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来源期刊
Fusion Engineering and Design
Fusion Engineering and Design 工程技术-核科学技术
CiteScore
3.50
自引率
23.50%
发文量
275
审稿时长
3.8 months
期刊介绍: The journal accepts papers about experiments (both plasma and technology), theory, models, methods, and designs in areas relating to technology, engineering, and applied science aspects of magnetic and inertial fusion energy. Specific areas of interest include: MFE and IFE design studies for experiments and reactors; fusion nuclear technologies and materials, including blankets and shields; analysis of reactor plasmas; plasma heating, fuelling, and vacuum systems; drivers, targets, and special technologies for IFE, controls and diagnostics; fuel cycle analysis and tritium reprocessing and handling; operations and remote maintenance of reactors; safety, decommissioning, and waste management; economic and environmental analysis of components and systems.
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