Modelling and Simulation of Nuclear Waste Flows Modelling and Simulation of Nuclear Waste Flows

Completed

Nuclear Fission and Fusion(Nuclear Fission, Nuclear supporting technologies)

Basic and strategic applied research

PHYSICAL SCIENCES AND MATHEMATICS (Chemistry)
PHYSICAL SCIENCES AND MATHEMATICS (Physics)
ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY (General Engineering and Mineral & Mining Engineering)
ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY (Civil Engineering)

Not Cross-cutting

Professor M Fairweather
Inst of Particle Science & Engineering
University of Leeds

Research Grant

RAEng

01 July 2013

31 December 2013

6 months

£6,000

Transport Systems and Vehicles

Yorkshire & Humberside

Research Exchange with China and India Research Exchange with China and India

Professor M Fairweather, Inst of Particle Science & Engineering, University of Leeds

Dr J Yao, Xiamen University, China

Royal Academy of Engineering schemes for Engineers in research and Development

The aim of the project is to investigate the mechanisms of particle dispersion and deposition in turbulent flows within pipes that are important in many industrial, environmental and energy-related processes. Of specific interest here is their relevance to the transportation and processing of nuclear waste in the form of a liquid-solid sludge, and the behaviour of particles within such sludges during hydraulic transport in terms of their dispersion, the settling characteristics of the particles, and their propensity to form solid beds. The formation of beds can result in blockages to pipes and equipment and lead to difficulties in obtaining dispersed particle flows from storage equipment and ponds for subsequent processing. An understanding of how these flows behave during transportation is of clear benefit to more cost-effective process design, continued operation, and accelerated waste clean-up. The understanding to be generated will be embodied within mathematical models of value in the design and management of waste transport and processing systems. The work extends previous research between the University of Leeds and Xiamen University, with the specific objectives being to establish a working mathematical model of flows in pipes with and without solid beds, and to apply that model to practically relevant flows.The aim of the project is to investigate the mechanisms of particle dispersion and deposition in turbulent flows within pipes that are important in many industrial, environmental and energy-related processes. Of specific interest here is their relevance to the transportation and processing of nuclear waste in the form of a liquid-solid sludge, and the behaviour of particles within such sludges during hydraulic transport in terms of their dispersion, the settling characteristics of the particles, and their propensity to form solid beds. The formation of beds can result in blockages to pipes and equipment and lead to difficulties in obtaining dispersed particle flows from storage equipment and ponds for subsequent processing. An understanding of how these flows behave during transportation is of clear benefit to more cost-effective process design, continued operation, and accelerated waste clean-up. The understanding to be generated will be embodied within mathematical models of value in the design and management of waste transport and processing systems. The work extends previous research between the University of Leeds and Xiamen University, with the specific objectives being to establish a working mathematical model of flows in pipes with and without solid beds, and to apply that model to practically relevant flows.The aim of the project is to investigate the mechanisms of particle dispersion and deposition in turbulent flows within pipes that are important in many industrial, environmental and energy-related processes. Of specific interest here is their relevance to the transportation and processing of nuclear waste in the form ofaliquid-solid sludge, and the behaviour of particles within such sludges during hydraulic transport in terms of their dispersion, the settling characteristics of the particles, and their propensity to form solid beds. The formation of beds can result in blockages to pipes and equipment and lead to difficulties in obtaining dispersed particle flows from storage equipment and ponds for subsequent processing. An understanding of how these flows behave during transportation is of clear benefit to more cost-effective process design, continued operation, and accelerated waste clean-up. The understanding to be generated will be embodied within mathematical models of value in the design and management of waste transport and processing systems. The work extends previous research between the University of Leeds and Xiamen University, with the specific objectives being to establish a working mathematical model of flows in pipes with and without solid beds, and to apply that model to practically relevant flows.

21/01/14