The Spallation Neutron Source (SNS) is an accelerator-based neutron source at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL). The nuclear spallation reaction occurs when a proton beam hits liquid mercury. This interaction causes thermal expansion of the liquid mercury which produces high pressure waves. When these pressure waves hit the target vessel wall, cavitation can occur and erode the wall. Research and development efforts at SNS include creation of a vertical protective gas layer between the flowing liquid mercury and target vessel wall to mitigate the cavitation damage erosion and extend the life time of the target. Since mercury is opaque, computational fluid dynamics (CFD) has been used to visualize the general behavior of a protective gas layer arising from various delivery and retention concepts as a guide for design of experimental efforts. Recent advancements in capacity for large scale CFD modeling via the high performance compute systems of ORNL now enable high-fidelity simulation approaching full geometric scale. Accordingly, in this study, CFD simulations of three dimensional, unsteady, turbulent, two-phase flow of helium gas injection in flowing liquid mercury over textured walls are carried out for target design purposes with the commercially available CFD code STARCCM+. The Volume of Fluid (VOF) model is used to track the helium-mercury interface. Different combinations of conical pits and V-shaped straight grooves at different orientations with respect to the gravity vector are simulated at the SNS proton beam window to increase the helium gas holdup. Time integration of predicted helium gas volume fraction over time is done for the design alternatives considered to compare the gas coverage and average thickness of the helium gas layer.
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ASME 2011 International Mechanical Engineering Congress and Exposition
November 11–17, 2011
Denver, Colorado, USA
Conference Sponsors:
- ASME
ISBN:
978-0-7918-5492-1
PROCEEDINGS PAPER
Two-Phase Flow Simulations of Protective Gas Layer for Spallation Neutron Source Target
Ashraf Abdou,
Ashraf Abdou
Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN
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Mark Wendel,
Mark Wendel
Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN
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Bernard Riemer,
Bernard Riemer
Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN
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Robert Brewster
Robert Brewster
CD-Adapco, Melville, NY
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Ashraf Abdou
Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN
Mark Wendel
Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN
Bernard Riemer
Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN
Eric Volpenhein
CD-Adapco, Melville, NY
Robert Brewster
CD-Adapco, Melville, NY
Paper No:
IMECE2011-64346, pp. 421-428; 8 pages
Published Online:
August 1, 2012
Citation
Abdou, A, Wendel, M, Riemer, B, Volpenhein, E, & Brewster, R. "Two-Phase Flow Simulations of Protective Gas Layer for Spallation Neutron Source Target." Proceedings of the ASME 2011 International Mechanical Engineering Congress and Exposition. Volume 6: Fluids and Thermal Systems; Advances for Process Industries, Parts A and B. Denver, Colorado, USA. November 11–17, 2011. pp. 421-428. ASME. https://doi.org/10.1115/IMECE2011-64346
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