About this Abstract |
| Meeting |
MS&T25: Materials Science & Technology
|
| Symposium
|
Advancements in Molten Salt/Metal Technology in Energy Applications: From Atoms to Plants
|
| Presentation Title |
Development of a Thermal Conductivity Model for Molten Salts Based on the Pair Distribution Function |
| Author(s) |
Jacob Numbers, Troy Munro, Tony Birri, Nick Termini, Isaac Walker, Tyler Hamm |
| On-Site Speaker (Planned) |
Isaac Walker |
| Abstract Scope |
While Gen IV molten salt nuclear reactors (MSR) present significant potential advantages, designing and licensing MSRs require increased predictability of salt behavior. A critical parameter for MSR thermal hydraulic design is the temperature and composition-dependent thermal conductivity of the molten salt. A model for molten salt thermal conductivity is being developed at BYU which uses short-range order structural information provided by the pair distribution function to estimate the mean free path of energy carriers. Based on the phonon gas model, the present method uses the measurable macroscopic specific heat capacity, sound velocity, and endmember properties to predict a molten salt mixture’s thermal conductivity as a function of temperature and composition. Comparisons to experimental measurements indicate applicability to salts ranging from unary alkali-halides to actinide-bearing mixtures, providing increasing modeling capability for MSRs. These results aim to advance the fundamental understanding of heat transfer in molten salts and liquids in general. |