Homework #3

The figure below illustrates a cross-section of a nuclear fuel rod.

graphite cladding
kg = 3 W/m-K thorium fuel
k f  23 W/m-K
g   8x10 W/m
7 3

thc = 1.5 mm

rf,out = 10 mm

coolant channel
rf,in = 3 mm
T f  600C, h

thch = 1.5 mm
Nuclear fuel rod.

The thorium fuel material has inner radius rf,in = 3 mm and an outer radius of rf,out = 10 mm. The
nuclear reaction leads to a volumetric generation of thermal energy within the thorium of g  =
8x107 W/m3. The thorium has conductivity kf = 23 W/m-K. The center of the thorium is empty
and can be considered adiabatic. There is a graphite cladding surrounding the fuel with thickness
thc = 1.5 mm and conductivity kg = 3 W/m-K. The area-specific contact resistance between the
graphite and the thorium is Rc = 8.2x10-4 K-m2/W. The outer surface of the cladding is exposed
to the coolant that transfers energy to the nuclear power cycle. The coolant flows through a
channel with thickness thch = 1.5 mm. The fluid temperature is Tf = 600ºC and the heat transfer
coefficient between the graphite and the coolant depends on the thickness of the coolant channel
according to:

 W  1.5
h  5.4x106  3.5  thch
m K

This problem concerns modeling and designing the fuel rod. Do the problem on a per unit length
basis (i.e., L = 1 m)
a.) Determine the contact resistance between the thorium and graphite, the convection resistance
between the graphite surface and coolant, and the conduction resistance associated with the
graphite. Comment on which resistance is most important and which is less important. Are
any negligible in your opinion?

It is not possible to represent the thorium using a thermal resistance because it experiences
thermal energy generation. Instead we will need to derive and solve the ODE associated with the
temperature in the fuel itself.
b.) Derive the governing ODE within the thorium.
c.) Determine the boundary conditions associated with the ODE.
d.) Implement your solution in EES in order to obtain the constants of integration. Prepare a
plot showing the temperature (in ºC) as a function of radius (in mm) within the thorium.

The fuel rod should be made as compact as possible while doing the most in order to make a
cost-effective nuclear power plant. The thorium can’t operate above a temperature of about Tmelt
= 1600ºC; allow EES to adjust rf,out in so that the Thorium is always at it melting temperature.
e.) What is the value of rf,out that leads to Tmax= Tmelt?

One metric for the cost-effectiveness of the design is the ratio of the heat transferred to the
coolant to the total volume of the fuel rod g / V , the volume including the center material,
thorium, graphite, and the coolant channel.
f.) Plot g / V as a function of the coolant channel thickness, thch. Note that your value of rf,out
should always be adjusted so that the maximum fuel rod temperature is Tmelt if you have done
the problem correctly. You should see that an optimal coolant channel thickness exists –
explain why.

Now develop a numerical model of the fuel rod. Your numerical model need only position
nodes within the thorium itself – the contact resistance, cladding, and convection can all be
modeled using an appropriate boundary condition for the outer node of your numerical model.
g.) Develop a numerical model of the thorium fuel rod for the conditions listed in the problem
statement. Plot the temperature as a function of radius and overlay on your plot the
analytical solution that you derived previously for the optimal coolant channel thickness and
fuel rod radius you determine in (f) – they should lay nearly exactly on one another.

One of the advantages of using a numerical model is that complications such as temperature-
dependent properties can be relatively easily taken into account. Assume that the volumetric rate
of thermal energy generation depends on temperature according to:

 W   T  1400  K  
g  T   8x107  3  1  
 m   500  K  

And the conductivity of thorium is also temperature-dependent and is given approximately by

the equation:

 W   W 
2 
k f T   23    0.025  T  1400  K 
 m-K   m-K 

h.) Modify your numerical model so that it considers the temperature-dependent conductivity as
well as the temperature-dependent volumetric rate of thermal energy generation. Overlay on
your plot from (k) the temperature distribution including both of these effects.