The Power of Nanofluids
Cooling processes are central to nuclear power generation, which is widely seen as an important factor in the global reduction of carbon emissions over coming decades. Most reactors today use plain water as a stand-by cooling agent for cases of core overheating, but research led by Jacopo Buongiorno, the Carl R. Soderberg Professor of Power Engineering, has demonstrated that the addition of nanoparticles to the cooling water provides up to a 100 percent increase in the amount of heat that can be quickly removed from the core. The particles are tiny bits of material such as alumina and diamond, just a few hundred molecules across; researchers are exploring their use in a wide range of materials applications.
“Where this really helps is the broadening of the allowable power range during operation,” explains Buongiorno. “The improved cooling capability allows a plant to increase its power output while retaining the same conservative safety margins it’s always had.” As a result, utility companies can get more electrical output per construction dollar with no safety tradeoffs. “Existing plants may be retrofitted to adopt this new technology if successfully demonstrated and licensed”, said Dr. Hu.
Spreng’s funding, provided as part of his broader support of the MIT Energy Initiative, enabled Buongiorno’s team to build apparatus for research into the use of nanofluids for quenching – the plunging of a very hot object (such as a metallic sphere) into a cool fluid. The research found that the suspended nanoparticles accumulated on the surface of the object being quenched, thus destabilizing the vapor film formed around the object and greatly accelerating the cooling process.
This technology has been patented by AREVA, a nuclear technology company and research co-sponsor, which is conducting R&D for industrialization of nanofluids both in academia and at its own facilities in France, Germany and the US. "AREVA is very interested in industrial application of nanofluids, and we hope our development work will allow their consideration in our basic design. But much remains to be done, and we are approaching the subject very methodically and cautiously," said Dr. Mike Pop, International Expert Level II in Materials at AREVA.
Additional money from Spreng’s original gift is now being directed to a new program, which is exploring the use of nanofluids’ enhanced heat transfer abilities for in-vessel retention of melted fuel.
Spreng’s enthusiastic support of interdisciplinary innovation to address long-term energy problems was an ideal fit for Buongiorno’s team – and their accomplishments are providing enabling technology in the worldwide quest to reduce carbon emissions.
Related Papers
- H. Kim, T. McKrell, J. Buongiorno, L. W. Hu, “Nanoparticle Deposition Effects on the Minimum Heat Flux Point and Quench Front Speed during Quencing of Rodlets and Spheres in Water-Based Alumina Nanofluids”, Int. J. Heat Mass Transfer, 53, 1542–1553, 2010.
- H. Kim, T. McKrell, G. Dewitt, J. Buongiorno, L. W. Hu, “On the Quenching of Steel and Zircaloy Spheres in Water-Based Nanofluids with Alumina, Silica and Diamond Nanoparticles”, Int J. Multiphase Flow, 35, 427–438, 2009.
- J. Buongiorno, L. W. Hu, S. J. Kim, R. Hannink, B. Truong, E. Forrest, “Nanofluids for Enhanced Economics and Safety of Nuclear Reactors: an Evaluation of the Potential Features, Issues and Research Gaps”, Nuclear Technology, Vol. 162, 80-91, 2008.
“I was struck by Professor Buongiorno's project on nanofluids because it had the potential to have a major and immediate impact on the cost and safety of existing nuclear power plants, requiring only seed funding to take it to compeltion – and the results exceeded our expectations!”
—Douglas Spreng
Photo
Dispersion of nanoparticles in water accelerates quenching of a hot rodlet (simulating a nuclear fuel rod), a feature that may be used to improve the thermal performance of nuclear reactors.
Written by Peter Dunn
Photo by Jonathan Sachs
Department of Nuclear Science & Engineering
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
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