Improving spent nuclear fuel vacuum drying efficiency via pump modulation at the liquid–vapor phase transition

IF 6.9 2区工程技术 Q2 ENERGY & FUELS

Applied Thermal Engineering Pub Date : 2025-10-03 DOI:10.1016/j.applthermaleng.2025.128628

Ji Hwan Lim , Kyoung-Sik Bang , Seung-Hwan Yu , Kyung-Wook Shin , Nam-Hee Lee , Gyung-sun Chae

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

This study explores advanced vacuum drying strategies for spent nuclear fuel, focusing on thermodynamic optimization through precise pump modulation at phase transition boundaries. Utilizing a high-capacity vacuum pump within a 98-liter canister, the research underscores the critical role of dynamic pump performance in enhancing drying efficiency. A salient finding is the elevated average evaporation rate of 33.703 mg/s achieved by fine-tuning pump flow from 400 L/min near 10 torr to below 5 torr before finally setting at 100 L/min—surpassing direct transitions to 100 L/min. This demonstrates the potential for further optimization by exploiting sub-10 torr pressures, thus mitigating ice formation risks and boosting efficiency through targeted modulation. Comparative analysis illustrates improvements up to 3.486-fold when employing dual pump transitions, highlighting the transformative potential of adaptive pumping. Results confirm that strategic modulation fosters robust moisture removal, ensuring complete drying with pressures below three torr for 30 min, marking a significant advancement in nuclear fuel storage methodologies.

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利用泵调制液-气相转变提高乏燃料真空干燥效率

本研究探讨了先进的乏燃料真空干燥策略，重点是通过在相变边界进行精确的泵调制来实现热力学优化。利用高容量真空泵在一个98升的罐子，研究强调了动态泵的性能在提高干燥效率的关键作用。一个显著的发现是，通过微调泵流量，从10 torr附近的400 L/min提高到5 torr以下，最终达到100 L/min，平均蒸发速率提高了33.703 mg/s，超过了直接过渡到100 L/min。这表明了进一步优化的潜力，可以利用低于10的扭矩压力，从而降低结冰风险，并通过有针对性的调节提高效率。对比分析表明，当采用双泵转换时，改进幅度高达3.486倍，突出了自适应泵的变革潜力。结果证实，战略调制促进了强大的水分去除，确保在低于3托的压力下完全干燥30分钟，这标志着核燃料储存方法的重大进步。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Applied Thermal Engineering 工程技术-工程：机械

CiteScore

11.30

自引率

15.60%

发文量

1474

审稿时长

57 days

期刊介绍： Applied Thermal Engineering disseminates novel research related to the design, development and demonstration of components, devices, equipment, technologies and systems involving thermal processes for the production, storage, utilization and conservation of energy, with a focus on engineering application. The journal publishes high-quality and high-impact Original Research Articles, Review Articles, Short Communications and Letters to the Editor on cutting-edge innovations in research, and recent advances or issues of interest to the thermal engineering community.