Heat Transfer Enhancement of a Zirconium Heater Rod Using a Chromium Coating During Quenching

Turki K. Almudhhi, Shikha A. Ebrahim, Mustafa H. Almadih, Douglas Edward Wolfe, Fan Bill Cheung

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

2 Scopus citations

Abstract

Transient pool boiling experiments were conducted in a distilled water pool to investigate the effect of Chromium coating on Zirconium heated rod. Chromium is one of the candidates for accident tolerant fuel (ATF). Zirconium samples were coated using cathodic arc physical vapor deposition (CA-PVD), which forms a thin layer of Chromium. Bare Zirconium and Chromium-coated samples were quenched in a 3-degree and 10-degree subcooled pool under atmospheric pressure. Quenching in a 3°C subcooled pool forms a thick layer of vapor which suppresses the effect of Chromium coating. In contrast to quenching in a 3°C subcooled pool, the heat transfer rate for the Cr-coated rod in the 10°C subcooled pool is larger than the uncoated Zr rod during film boiling due to the surface microstructure of Cr coating, which enhances heat transfer during film boiling. The Minimum Film Boiling Temperature (TMFB) for the Cr-coating sample does not vary significantly with pool temperature. On the contrary, the TMFB for the Zirconium sample increased dramatically with increasing subcooling. Both samples quench faster in a higher subcooled pool. The effect of Cr-coating was found to be insignificant on quench time due to the fact that it was only around three micrometers in thickness. In all tests, the quench time significantly decreased when liquid subcooling is increased.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publication5th-6th Thermal and Fluids Engineering Conference, TFEC 2021
PublisherBegell House Inc.
Pages1039-1046
Number of pages8
ISBN (Electronic)9781567005172
DOIs
StatePublished - 2021
Event5th-6th Thermal and Fluids Engineering Conference, TFEC 2021 - Virtual, Online
Duration: May 26 2021May 28 2021

Publication series

NameProceedings of the Thermal and Fluids Engineering Summer Conference
Volume2021-May
ISSN (Electronic)2379-1748

Conference

Conference5th-6th Thermal and Fluids Engineering Conference, TFEC 2021
CityVirtual, Online
Period5/26/215/28/21

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment
  • Condensed Matter Physics
  • Energy Engineering and Power Technology
  • Mechanical Engineering
  • Fluid Flow and Transfer Processes
  • Electrical and Electronic Engineering

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