CFD Modeling of the Thermophysical Parameters of a Furnace for the Carbothermal Synthesis of Uranium and Plutonium Nitrides
https://doi.org/10.1134/S2304487X21020103
Abstract
The temperature distribution, gas flow pattern and velocity in the reaction zone of a furnace for the carbothermal synthesis of uranium and plutonium nitrides have been numerically analyzed. The heater temperature, flow rate and temperature of the gas supplied to the furnace retort are the input data for the analysis. The analysis is performed using a CFD model of the furnace developed and validated for the isothermal holding and transient modes of the furnace. The CFD model takes into account two specific features of the carbothermal synthesis reaction of uranium and plutonium nitrides such as a change in the thermophysical properties of the charge in the process of transformation of UO2 and PuO2 into (U, Pu)N, and heat release during the exothermic reaction. The furnace has a fairly wide range of process parameters, which make it possible to ensure the temperature of the entire volume of the charge within the range of (1650 ± 50)°С for the carbothermal synthesis of uranium and plutonium nitrides. It has been shown that the maximum temperature unevenness in the charge volume does not exceed 65°C. The analysis of the gas flow pattern inside the retort shows that the delivery of nitrogen and nitrogen-hydrogen mixture to the reaction zone of the entire volume of the charge, as well as the removal of gaseous reaction products from the retort, is ensured. Since the gas flow rate and the temperature do not significantly affect the charge temperature inside the retort, these parameters should be selected taking into account the optimal behavior of the chemical carbothermal reaction for the synthesis of uranium and plutonium nitrides. The results of the numerical analysis illustrate the capabilities of CFD modeling of thermophysical processes inside the retort furnace at the equipment development stage and at the stages of selection and justification of the furnace operation modes.
About the Authors
R. N. Shamsutdinov
Sosny R&D Company; Dimitrovgrad Engineering and Technological Institute, National Research Nuclear University MEPhI (Moscow Engineering Physics Institute)
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
433507
Ul’yanovskaya oblast
Dimitrovgrad
S. V. Pavlov
Sosny R&D Company; Dimitrovgrad Engineering and Technological Institute, National Research Nuclear University MEPhI (Moscow Engineering Physics Institute)
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
433507
Ul’yanovskaya oblast
Dimitrovgrad
A. Yu. Leshchenko
Sosny R&D Company
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
433507
Ul’yanovskaya oblast
Dimitrovgrad
M. I. Ilyashik
Proryv Company
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
107140
Moscow
M. K. Gorbachev
Proryv Company
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
107140
Moscow
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Review
For citations:
Shamsutdinov R.N., Pavlov S.V., Leshchenko A.Yu., Ilyashik M.I., Gorbachev M.K. CFD Modeling of the Thermophysical Parameters of a Furnace for the Carbothermal Synthesis of Uranium and Plutonium Nitrides. Vestnik natsional'nogo issledovatel'skogo yadernogo universiteta "MIFI". 2021;10(2):151-161. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.1134/S2304487X21020103
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