Seminar: Advanced Reactor Concepts and Nuclear Hybrid Energy Systems: Ongoing Effort, Challenges, and Opportunities

Abstract:

This seminar presentation will provide an overview of various different areas currently being researched at INL and insight into an ongoing facility being designed to support the Advanced Reactor Program and Nuclear Hybrid Energy System (NHES) Initiative. Plant designs often include an intermediate heat transfer loop (IHTL) with heat exchangers at either end to deliver thermal energy to the application while providing isolation of the primary reactor coolant system. To address technical feasibility concerns and challenges associated with the IHTL, a new high-temperature multi-fluid, multi-loop test facility—the Advanced Reactor Technology Integral System Test (ARTIST) facility—is under development at INL. The facility will include three flow loops: high-temperature helium, molten salt, and steam/water, thermally coupled through an intermediate heat exchanger and a secondary heat exchanger, respectively. Research topics to be addressed with this facility include characterization and performance evaluation of high-temperature components, high-temperature instrumentation at prototypic operating conditions, and evaluation of corrosion behavior of new cladding materials and accident-tolerant fuels for LWRs at prototypical conditions. This presentation will also provide an overview of the NHES, with system and economic challenges, and opportunities and seismic analysis research activities being performed in the Post-Fukushima era for the current and advanced fleet of reactors.

About the Speaker:

Dr. Piyush Sabharwall is a staff research scientist working in Nuclear System Design and Analysis Division at INL. Dr. Sabharwall received his Masters in Nuclear Engineering with a minor in Mechanical Engineering from Oregon State University and Doctorate from University of Idaho, also in Nuclear Engineering. He has expertise in heat transfer, fluid mechanics, thermal design, thermodynamics, and nuclear safety analyses. Over the last few years, he has been researching high-temperature heat exchanger design and optimization, system integration and power conversion systems, and safety and reliability for Advanced Reactor Concepts. Dr. Sabharwall has exhibited leadership qualities by leading several external partnerships both at regional/international levels, engagements with industry, national laboratories and academia. He has been an active member of the ASME Heat Transfer Division (particularly the K-13 and K-9 committees) and the ANS Thermal Hydraulic Division. In 2011 he received the ASME New Faces of Engineering Award and in 2013 was awarded the ANS Young Member Excellence National Award.

Hosted by Professor Xiaodong Sun (The Ohio State University)