THOR - Thermal-Hydraulics Open-access Research

Water Thermal-Hydraulics (T/H) loop for open-access R&D at M-SParc
- Designed, built and operated by Nuclear Futures Bangor RDTH
- Yields an accessible platform for collaboration partners and other interested parties
- Creates local and national capability & competence within the T/H field
- Supports development of instrumentation, digital infrastructure and rig hardware
- Applies a step-wise approach through an upgradeable and modifiable concept
First, generic procurement phase completed in April 2020
- Variable speed pump; secondary heat exchanger
- Flow meter; high speed camera and supporting stereo vision camera systems
- Data acquisition systems; computation system; controls and instrumentation infrastructure, software and hardware
Optimised design from September 2020
- Proceeding from major component layout to loop simulation, dimensioning and component design
- Hall preparations and design finalisation underway
- Platform for digital twinning – Nuclear Virtual Engineering Capability
- Manufacture and first installations underway
Preliminary Design Specs
Basic Loop Design Criteria
- Electric power output ≤ 50 kW
- Height 6.5 m
- Reconfigurable test section 4 m
- Two principal function modes:
- Forced circulation
- Natural circulation
- Flow rates 0.5-2.5 kg/s
- System pressures up to 16 bar
- Support for temperatures ≈ 202°C
- Design enhancements resulting from optimisation
- Horizontal test section
- Boiler vessel for steam generation and liquid/steam storage
- Steam pump
Collaboration
Academic partners
- International: KTH Stockholm, ETH Zürich
- Domestic: Imperial College, University of Liverpool
- In discussions: MIT, University of New Brunswick
Industry and institutes
- Vessco Engineering, Westinghouse, Jacobs, Rolls-Royce
- National labs: UKAEA, NNL
- In discussions: EDF Energy, STFC Daresbury
Equipment
- 4K Cameras: 2 x Z Cam Cinema E2
- Analog Output Module: National Instruments NI9266 DSUB
- Circulating pump: Lowara E-SV Series
- Data Acquisition Computer: Corsair Obsidian Series 750D, Airflow Edition
- Data Analysis Computer: Fractal Define 7 XL
- Flow Control Sensor: Rheonik Mass Flow Controler 26 Coriolis Mass Flow Transmitter RHE26
- Hi-speed Camera: Vision Research AMETEK Materials Phantom VEO 640L
- Lens: 2 x Olympus M. Zuiko Premium 30mm f3.5 Macro
- Lighting: LUMIN-8 600D (Daylight) & LUMIN-8- 600BI (bi-COLOUR) LED Light
- Monitor: ASUS TUF VG289
- Oil Heat Exchanger: Nissens HP Oil Cooler
- Read/Write Card: AV Pro CF
- Signal Acquisition Electronics Unit: Bespoke ETH Zurich system
- Software: Labview
- Video Stand: Manfrotto 502 ALU Single Leg Video System