Award Date

1-1-2007

Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science in Materials and Nuclear Engineering

Department

Mechanical Engineering

First Committee Member

Daniel Cook

Number of Pages

49

Abstract

The High-Power RACE (HP-RACE) Target, a component of the Reactor-Accelerator Coupling Experiments (RACE), was designed to be coupled with a high-power electron linear accelerator (linac). The target was designed to be bombarded with electrons to produce photoneutrons via bremsstrahlung. This process will deposit 20 kW of beam power across a small mass of heavy metal and requires an analysis of the target's thermal system to ensure a safe design. In this study, the thermal hydraulics of the HP-RACE electron accelerator target is analyzed; Low-power testing was performed at Idaho State University-Idaho Accelerator Center (ISU-IAC) using a linac capable of 1 kW, which is about one-twentieth of the designed operating power level. Calculations predicted conservative estimates of temperatures throughout the coolant channels and tungsten disks when compared to the low-power experimental data; Fluent, a computational fluid dynamics code, was also utilized as an analysis tool for heat transfer as well as fluid flow. Temperature data from Fluent models was also conservative but more accurate than calculations, ∼19% conservative versus ∼34%. The fluid flow data predicted by Fluent also agreed with calculated and experimental values verifying the mathematical model and assumptions made in its development. This data also identified eddies in the outlet coolant channel at higher flow rates which could become problem areas in the target geometry and requires further study before the application of full power.

Keywords

Analysis; High; Hydraulic; Power; Race; Target; Thermal

Controlled Subject

Nuclear engineering; Mechanical engineering

File Format

pdf

File Size

1034.24 KB

Degree Grantor

University of Nevada, Las Vegas

Language

English

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