CX-270234: Experimental and Computational Studies of NEAMS Pebble Bed Reactors – Texas A&M University

Texas A&M University proposes to perform a coordinated experimental and computational effort to quantitatively map the full-field 3-D velocity and temperature fields in the interstitial spaces within a pebble bed. The project will measure in-situ velocity and temperature distributions within a pebble bed flow system using state-of-the-art high-speed high-resolution particle image velocimetry and laser induced fluorescence techniques, will use a unique magnetic induction heating system that permits selective heating of individual pebbles or clusters of pebbles inside the test sections, perform modeling to accurately represent the multi-scales of flow and thermal transport in the interstitial pore spaces within the pebble bed.