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Title IMPROVING THERMAL PERFORMANCE OF RADIOACTIVE MATERIAL DRUM TYPEPACKAGES BY USING HEAT PIPES
Creator/Author Gupta, N
Publication Date2007 Mar 06
OSTI IdentifierOSTI ID: 900560
Report Number(s)WSRC-STI-2007-00101
DOE Contract NumberDE-AC09-96SR18500
Other Number(s)TRN: US200711%%205
Resource TypeConference
Resource RelationConference: ASME PVP 2007 / CREEP 8
Research OrgSRS
Sponsoring OrgDOE
Subject42 ENGINEERING; CONTAINERS; RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS; THERMAL CONDUCTIVITY; HEAT PIPES; FEASIBILITY STUDIES; HEAT TRANSFER; COMPUTERIZED SIMULATION
Description/Abstract This paper presents a feasibility study to improve thermal loading of existing radioactive material packages by using heat pipes. The concept could be used to channel heat in certain directions and dissipate to the environment. The concept is applied to a drum type package because the drum type packages are stored and transported in an upright position. This orientation is suitable for heat pipe operation that could facilitate the heat pipe implementation in the existing well proven package designs or in new designs where thermal loading is high. In this position, heat pipes utilize gravity very effectively to enhance heat flow in the upward direction Heat pipes have extremely high effective thermal conductivity that is several magnitudes higher than the most heat conducting metals. In addition, heat pipes are highly unidirectional so that the effective conductivity for heat transfer in the reverse direction is greatly reduced. The concept is applied to the 9977 package that is currently going through the DOE certification review. The paper presents computer simulations using typical off-the-shelf heat pipe available configurations and performance data for the 9977 package. A path forward is outlined for implementing the concepts for further study and prototype testing.
Publisherpubinfo
Country of PublicationUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Availability available
System Entry Date2007 Jul 23
Document Discussions

Heat Pipes Promising:

The concept of using heat pipes with radioactive material drum packages (i.e. the DOE utilized 9977) looks to be a good one. As the article proposes, more computer simulations are needed, but all in all this would be a great method to dissipate the excess heat into the environment while still maintaing the safety of the drum structure. I enjoyed the "Heat Pipe Design Guidelines", as a great step-by-step, what to do to create a heat pipe, map. Table 1 was very informative, and easy to comprehend, as to temperature ranges, fulid and vessel material types. There were good diagrams, figures, and charts, but I was left still not sure how the heat pipes will fit on the 9977 package. Perhaps adding more detailed views (i.e. a top-down view) or a better side view of the expected product (heat pipes fused with drum) would be helpful.
    posted by er.dom - Aug 6, 2008 8:35 AM

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