The operation of pebble bed reactors, including fuel circulation, can generate graphite dust, which in turn could be a concern for internal components; and to the near field in the remote event of a break in the coolant circuits. The design of the reactor system must, therefore, take the dust into account and the operation must include contingencies for dust removal and for mitigation of potential releases. Such planning requires a proper assessment of the dust inventory. This paper presents a predictive model of dust generation in an operating pebble bed with recirculating fuel. In this preliminary work the production model is based on the use of the assumption of proportionality between the dust production and the normal force and distance traveled. The model developed in this work uses the slip distances and the inter-pebble forces computed by the authors’ PEBBLES. The code, based on the discrete element method, simulates the relevant static and kinetic friction interactions between the pebbles as well as the recirculation of the pebbles through the reactor vessel. The interaction between pebbles and walls of the reactor vat is treated using the same approach. The amount of dust produced is proportional to the wear coefficient for adhesive wear (taken from literature) and to the slip volume, the product of the contact area and the slip distance. The paper will compare the predicted volume with the measured production rates. The simulation tallies the dust production based on the location of creation. Two peak production zones from intra pebble forces are predicted within the bed. The first zone is located near the pebble inlet chute due to the speed of the dropping pebbles. The second peak zone occurs lower in the reactor with increased pebble contact force due to the weight of supported pebbles. This paper presents the first use of a Discrete Element Method simulation of pebble bed dust production.
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Fourth International Topical Meeting on High Temperature Reactor Technology
September 28–October 1, 2008
Washington, DC, USA
Conference Sponsors:
- ASME
ISBN:
978-0-7918-4854-8
PROCEEDINGS PAPER
Pebble Bed Reactor Dust Production Model
Joshua J. Cogliati,
Joshua J. Cogliati
Idaho National Laboratory, Idaho Falls, ID
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Abderrafi M. Ougouag
Abderrafi M. Ougouag
Idaho National Laboratory, Idaho Falls, ID
Search for other works by this author on:
Joshua J. Cogliati
Idaho National Laboratory, Idaho Falls, ID
Abderrafi M. Ougouag
Idaho National Laboratory, Idaho Falls, ID
Paper No:
HTR2008-58289, pp. 575-578; 4 pages
Published Online:
July 1, 2009
Citation
Cogliati, JJ, & Ougouag, AM. "Pebble Bed Reactor Dust Production Model." Proceedings of the Fourth International Topical Meeting on High Temperature Reactor Technology. Fourth International Topical Meeting on High Temperature Reactor Technology, Volume 1. Washington, DC, USA. September 28–October 1, 2008. pp. 575-578. ASME. https://doi.org/10.1115/HTR2008-58289
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