Earlier this month, the Nuclear Futures Institute (NFI) had the privilege of hosting the annual technical meetings of both the UK Fluids Network’s Special Interest Group in Nuclear Thermal Hydraulics, and the Collaborative Computational Project for Nuclear Thermal Hydraulics. At this event, a wide range of academic and industrial researchers had the excellent opportunity to present and discuss their research, plans and ambitions towards tackling the most important challenges in nuclear thermal hydraulics (NTH) research.
Beginning in the afternoon of Thursday, 15th June 2023, Bangor University’s Dr Marat Margulis opened the meeting be welcoming the 50 attending delegates to Neuadd Reichel. Reichel Hall was a great venue for the event. In this first technical session, attendees were captivated by awe-inspiring talks at the Nuclear Thermal Applications Special Interest group event (SIG/CCP-NTH). Researchers from MIT, the University of Sheffield and the University of Manchester gave fascinating talks on a range of topics, including; flow induced vibration studies and lead coolant simulations. After a short coffee break, the second technical session then commenced with an initial focus on computational research using CHAPsim (A CHannel And Pipe flow simulation solver, for the simulation of flow and heat transfer), followed by presentations on large eddy simulations of targets at the ISIS Neutron Source and of hot-helium jets.
The first day’s technical sessions were then brought to a close by two presentations from Bangor University. The first presentation was by Dr. Walter Villanueva, who introduced the Nuclear Future Institute’s BULLET facility. BULLET is The Bangor University Lead Loop for Erosion/corrosion Testing. It is a research facility that will test materials in flowing, high temperature, lead (Pb). It is used to assess how materials, such as those that comprise nuclear fuel components, behave in lead-cooled fast reactor coolants and components for nuclear fusion power plants. The second talk was given by PhD student Harvey Plows, who discussed fibre Bragg grating based flow characterisation.
Next, the delegates then briefly retired to their hotels before reconvening at Neuadd Reichel for a thoroughly enjoyable evening meal; which was opened by the University’s Vice-Chancellor. During this dinner reception Prof. em Horst-Michael Prasser, an Honorary Professor at Bangor University, gave a captivating talk about the range of nuclear-thermal applications, with a specific focus on wire-mesh sensors.
The next day, the final technical session of the meeting commenced. This began with a presentation investigating porous media modelling of the thermal hydraulic features of heat exchangers. After this, the technical session pivoted to presentations from industrial nuclear organisations, such as; Rolls-Royce Submarines, EDF R&D UK, Frazer-Nash Consultancy Ltd and the National Nuclear Laboratory. These talks explored both the ongoing research at these organisations, and outlined their ambitions for the future direction of nuclear thermal hydraulics (NTH) research. Crucially, emphasising the need for academic and industrial focus on key challenge problems.
Following the final technical session, the meeting was then brought to a close with a panel discussion to debate the future role of nuclear co-generation. This panel, chaired by Bangor University’s Dr Michael Rushton, fostered a lively discussion between the panel’s members: Dr Mike Bluck, Prof. em Horst-Michael Prasser, Richard Underhill, Dr Steve Graham, and Prof. Christos Markides. Amongst other subjects, the panel debated the practicalities of nuclear district heating and high temperature gas cooled reactor designs – primarily focusing on their suitability to impact the future of the UK’s nuclear energy ambitions.
Finally, after the meeting, the NFI arranged a coach to transport the visiting delegates from Neuadd Reichel to the University’s Menai Science Park (M-Sparc); located in Gaerwen on Anglesey. Here delegates received a tour of the NFI’s Thermal Hydraulics Open-access Research (THOR) Facility, and BULLET facilities, and saw a demonstration of multiphase flow characterisation with a wire-mesh sensor. Showcasing, in person, the impressive NTH research capabilities established at Bangor University by the NFI.
Thank you to everyone who attended, presented, and helped organise this event. We hope you had an enjoyable and informative visit; it could not have been a success without you.