• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.52 no.2
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• pp.248-257
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• 2020

This study presents an initial design for a novel system consisting in a coupled nuclear reactor and a phase change material-based thermal energy storage (TES) component, which acts as a buffer and regulator of heat transfer between the primary and secondary loops. The goal of this concept is to enhance the capacity factor of nuclear power plants (NPPs) in the case of high integration of renewable energy sources into the electric grid. Hence, this system could support in elevating the economics of NPPs in current competitive markets, especially with subsidized solar and wind energy sources, and relatively low oil and gas prices. Furthermore, utilizing a prismatic-core advanced high temperature reactor (PAHTR) cooled by a molten salt with a high melting point, have the potential in increasing the system efficiency due to its high operating temperature, and providing the baseline requirements for coupling other process heat applications. The present research studies the neutronics and thermal hydraulics (TH) of the PAHTR as well as TH calculations for the TES which consists of 300 blocks with a total heat storage capacity of 150 MWd. SERPENT Monte Carlo and MCNP5 codes carried out the neutronics analysis of the PAHTR which is sized to have a 5-year refueling cycle and rated power of 300 MW_th. The PAHTR has 10 metric tons of heavy metal with 19.75 wt% enriched UO₂ TRISO fuel, a hot clean excess reactivity and shutdown margin of $33.70 and -$115.68; respectively, negative temperature feedback coefficients, and an axial flux peaking factor of 1.68. Star-CCM + code predicted the correct convective heat transfer coefficient variations for both the reactor and the storage. TH analysis results show that the flow in the primary loop (in the reactor and TES) remains in the developing mixed convection regime while it reaches a fully developed flow in the secondary loop.

• Progress in Superconductivity and Cryogenics
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• v.6 no.4
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• pp.27-31
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• 2004

This paper describes the development and fabrication of a high temperature superconducting motor which consists of HTS rotor and air-core stator. The machine was designed for the rated power of 100hp at 1800 rpm. The HTS field windings are composed of the double-pancake coils wound with AMSC's SUS-reinforced Bi-2223 tape conductor. These were assembled on the support structure and fixed by a bandage of glass-fiber composite. The cooling system is based on the heat transfer mechanism of the thermosyphon by using GM cryocooler as cooling source. The cold head is in contact with the condenser of a Ne-filled thermosyphon. The rotor assembly was tested independently at the stationary state and combined with stator. Characteristic parameters such as reactances, inductances, and time constants were determined to obtain a consistent overview of the machine operation properties. This motor has met all design parameters by demonstrating HTS field winding, cryogenic refrigeration systems and an air-core armature winding cooled with air. The HTS field winding could be cooled down below 30K. No-load test of open-circuit characteristics(OCC) and short-circuit characteristics(SCC) and load test with resistive load bank were conducted in generator mode. Maximum operating current of field winding at 30K was 120A. From OCC and SCC test results synchronous inductance and synchronous reactance were 2.4mH, 0.49pu, respectively. Efficiency of this HTS machine was 93.3% in full load(100hp) test. This paper will present design, construction, and basic experimental test results of the 100hp HTS machine.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Railway
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.117-123
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• 2016

High speed circuit breakers(HSCB) interrupt the generated arc within the arc chute to turn off the electricity flowing through the main circuit to prevent ground faults. In order to explore the arc generated from the contactor operation, arc definition, establishment of arc interruption method, and analysis of magnetic driving force are required. In this paper, arc interruption capability has been estimated by exploring the difference in magnetic flux density of Lorenz forces using finite element analysis. In addition, since the number of grids and changes in the grid shape within the arc chute influence the formation of the inner magnetic field, its effects have been explored to enhance arc interruption capability. Assessment of interruption capability and analysis of grid shape, with rated operating current, are reported.