• NUCLEAR TECHNIQUES
  • Vol. 48, Issue 4, 040603 (2025)
Weihao ZHANG1, Maolong LIU2,*, Chen ZENG1, Limin LIU1..., Chong ZHOU3, Lyudian MENG4 and Hanyang GU1|Show fewer author(s)
Author Affiliations
  • 1Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
  • 2Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, China
  • 3Shanghai Institute of Applied Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201800, China
  • 4Shanghai Nuclear Equipment Test Center, Shanghai 201306, China
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    DOI: 10.11889/j.0253-3219.2025.hjs.48.230405 Cite this Article
    Weihao ZHANG, Maolong LIU, Chen ZENG, Limin LIU, Chong ZHOU, Lyudian MENG, Hanyang GU. Experimental and numerical simulation study on the solidification behavior of molten salt reactor coolants[J]. NUCLEAR TECHNIQUES, 2025, 48(4): 040603 Copy Citation Text show less

    Abstract

    Background

    Molten salt reactor is a promising type of reactor in the fourth generation advanced nuclear reactor system due to its excellent safety and economy. However, as the coolant for the molten salt reactor system, lithium fluoride beryllium (FLiBe) has a melting point of 460 ℃, which is much higher than the ambient temperature, so there is a risk of coolant solidification in the system.

    Purpose

    This study aims to establish a one-dimensional solidification model with mushy zone effect based on energy conservation and enthalpy porous medium model.

    Methods

    Firstly, based on the energy conservation equation, a solidification layer thickness model was established and a source term model with mushy zone was established based on the enthalpy porous medium model. The velocity and temperature distribution models were obtained on the basis of the boundary layer theory. Secondly, the molten salt solidification experiment was designed to verify these models. Finally, the system safety analysis program ASYST-SF was employed to simulate the filling behavior of FLiBe coolant in the pipe.

    Results

    The experimental verification results show that the overall model error is less than ±10%, meeting the requirements of reactor system safety analysis. The evolution behavior of fluid temperature, solidification layer thickness, and pressure drop of the pipe filling behavior under typical working conditions are observed.

    Conclusions

    The model and calculation results are of great significance for improving the operational safety of molten salt reactors.

    Weihao ZHANG, Maolong LIU, Chen ZENG, Limin LIU, Chong ZHOU, Lyudian MENG, Hanyang GU. Experimental and numerical simulation study on the solidification behavior of molten salt reactor coolants[J]. NUCLEAR TECHNIQUES, 2025, 48(4): 040603
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