Boiling Water Test LoopUniversity of Idaho

Dakota Nickerson, Kyle Pflueger, Adam Leschber, Andrew Dahlke

M.E. Undergrad 1

Mission Statement

The purpose of this project is to design and build a scaled boiling water test loop, serving as a test bench that can demonstrate the engineering design

concepts of the BWTL as well as verify the boiling regime.

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What We Want to Accomplish Today

Present: Background for BWTL Project

Schematic of BWTL

BWTL Test Apparatus

Apparatus Components

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Advanced Test Reactor

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Allows Accelerated Testing

Recently Became National Scientific User Facility

Now Public and Private Researchers can use for Nuclear Experiments

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Boiling Water Reactor

Second Most Common Commercial Reactor in United States

Used for Electric Power Production

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Key Concepts of the BWTL

Entire Loop Operates at the Vapor Pressure of Water

Pump is Used Only For Circulation not for Pressurization

Steady State Operation and Control System

Heat Transfer on Nuclear Fuel Rod

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BWTL Design Concept

Line heater

Heater E

lement

Temp – 320± 20 FPress – 90 psia

Pressure Relief Valve

Heat Exchanger

PETE

Pump

Temp – 320 ± 20 FPress – 90 psia

PETE

TE

Temp –320 ± 20 FPress – 90 psia

TE

ASME Expansion Tank

Line heater

4.5 kW Variable

Phase Angle Controller

Process Controller

Process Controller

Prop. Elect. Valve

PETE

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Vapor Pressure & Boiling

Vapor Pressure The Pressure Created Above a Liquid at a Given Temperature – 14.7 psia at 212 °F

Pool Boiling Liquid at Boiling Temperature

Film Boiling Layer of Vapor Between Heating

Element and Liquid

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Steady State Operation

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Pressure/Temperature will be Controlled by Varying the Amount of Cooling Water Circulated Through the Heat Exchanger

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Major BWTL Components

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Clear Test Section

Line Heaters

Gear Pump

Expansion Tank

Heat Exchanger

Cartridge Heater

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Major BWTL Components

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Line Heaters 4.5 kW Max Output

Water Heaters Power Output can be

Varied between 0 – 100% by means of Phase Angle SCR Power Controllers.

Project Learning

Major BWTL Components

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Heat Exchanger Shell and Tube Oversized to Allow Use

of Proportional Electrical Valve.

14.7 ft2 Heat Transfer Area

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Major BWTL Components

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Expansion Tank 8.3 Gallons Stainless Steel Built-in Temperature and

Pressure Fitting

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Major BWTL Components

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Gear Pump Positive Displacement Variable Flow Rate

through Variable RPM of Motor

.5 hp Motor

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Major BWTL Components

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Sight Glass Transparent Plastic Shell over Glass Rated to Withstand:

150 psi 400 °F

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Major BWTL Components

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Cartridge Heater 3.25 kW/ft Constant

Output 12 in Long x .5 in

Diameter

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Final Product

Project Learning

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Purchasing From Vendors is Significantly More Difficult with Custom Built Parts

Everything Always Takes Longer than Planned

Communication Between Client and Team is Just as Important as Team Communication.

Having A Definitive Goal and Mission Statement is Key in the Success of a Project.

Project Learning

Future Work

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Installation of Test Section

Testing of System: Verification of Pressurized Test Confirmation of Design and Components under

Vapor Pressure of Water

Delivery of Final Product

Project Learning

Questions

Total Cost

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Budget InfoTotal Budget $13,000.00

Company Item Cost

Omega Data Acq, pressure gages $2,165.00Omega/Rodger's Pump $1,625.00Papailias Sight Glass $646.00

Heat Exchanger $1,754.00Expansion Tank $684.00Pressure Relief Valve $159.74

Cromalux Cartridge Heater $325.00McMaster Pipes, and Pipe Fittings $527.81Moscow Building Supplypipe fittings, plywood $80.00Ace pipe fittings, plywood $20.00CNR Motor Pool Surburban $104.00Mundy's Frame $401.44Rodger's Pump Parts $300.00Hotel $159.96Gas $300.00Uhaul 5x8 Trailer $37.90McMaster Foot Insulation,plugs $109.12Facilities Angle Iron $6.75Crescent Electric Fuse, 8A, 25A $47.58Moscow Building SupplyDust Mask/Fasteners $10.20Walmart Paint, Primer, Paint thinner $23.50Moscow Building SupplyFasteners, pipe, wire $23.55Moscow Building SupplyHeater Elements, fasteners, pipe$47.09Walmart Paint, Primer, Paint thinner $17.70McMaster Fittings, Fuse $76.05Crescent Electric Switches, Wire, Fuse Holders $341.90Facilities Grouding screws, wire, J Box $5.74Facilities 10/4 and 14/4 SO Cord $49.54

Heat Transfer Coefficient

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A & delta T can be Measured Q will be Known From the Electrical Input H can be Determined Using the Equation

Above.

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Thermodynamic Analysis

Critical Heat Flux 23.6 kW/ft – well above heater output

Linear Heat Rate From The Cartridge Heater:

3.25 kW/ft Required exit quality:

14.6% Assuming inlet quality:

7.5% Expected BWTL Flow Rate:

0.51 gallons per minute

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