Thermal-Hydraulic Research Laboratory

Department of Nuclear Engineering

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Research on COVID-19 Conducted by the Thermal-Hydraulic Research Laboratory on BBC Ideas

Experiments conducted by the researchers at the Thermal Hydraulics Research Laboratory to investigate the dynamics of a human sneeze and the implications on COVID-19 transmission have been broadcasted by BBC. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cJMIGFNrikQ More information on the BBC … [Read more...]

HTGR Upper Plenum Natural Circulation Facility

Anas

One major accident of interest in the High Temperature Gas-Cooled Reactors is the Pressurized Conduction Cooldown (PCC) scenario. The PCC scenario results in a loss of forced convection to the core, while the loop stays pressurized since there is no breach in the boundary. The coolant flows through … [Read more...]

Tagged With: high temperature gas cooled reactors

Molten Salts Research & Development

The Thermal-Hydraulic Research Laboratory has established experimental capabilities to support the research and development of molten salt technologies for energy production, transfer, and storage. The laboratory hosts a molten salt forced flow test facility consisting of two independent systems … [Read more...]

Tagged With: energy storage, molten salts reactors

Helical Coil Steam Generator Test Loop

HCSG Test Section

The helical coil steam generator is a specific type of Tube and Shell Heat Exchanger known for having a higher heat transfer coefficient than many other designs. We have designed, constructed, and operated three test facilities with main focus on the shell side flow for a specific design of the … [Read more...]

Tagged With: other advanced reactors

A supportive COVID-19 study: Experimental Investigation on a Human Sneeze

Researchers at the Thermal Hydraulics Research Laboratory have conducted experiments and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations investigating the dynamics of a human sneeze. Objectives Droplets and aerosols ejected during the human sneeze possibly contains infectious … [Read more...]

A supportive COVID-19 study: How effective are common materials as homemade respiratory masks?

Researchers at the Thermal Hydraulics Research Laboratory have conducted experiments studying the efficacy of homemade and mass-produced masks. Supplies of mass-produced masks have decreased as the COVID-19 pandemic has progressed, necessitating the use of homemade masks. Objectives Face masks … [Read more...]

V&V Benchmark Problem #2 – Single-Jet Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) Numeric Model Validation

Upper Plenum Facility

The ASME V&V 30 Subcommittee on Verification and Validation in Computational Nuclear System Thermal Fluids Behavior is supporting a series of verification and validation (V&V) benchmark problems designed to study the scope and key ingredients of the V&V 30 Subcommittee's charter. This … [Read more...]

Tagged With: high temperature gas cooled reactors, Validation & Verification Benchmark

Wire Wrapped Fuel Assembly

Wire Wrapped Fuel Assembly

Advanced reactor technologies have generated interest for their potential to reduce fossil fuel emissions, improve energy efficiency and cut down on nuclear waste. We have designed, constructed , and operated a specialized test facility to measure hydraulic parameters and validate computational … [Read more...]

Tagged With: other advanced reactors

The Water-Cooled Reactor Cavity Cooling System (RCCS)

RCCS

The Very High Temperature Gas-Cooled Reactor (VHTR) is one of the six Gen IV reactor designs, which will generate electricity and high temperature heat for industrial applications. The design of the VHTR includes a new passive safety system that is designed to remove heat and maintain temperatures … [Read more...]

Tagged With: high temperature gas cooled reactors

Pebble Bed Test Facility

Pebble Bed Facility

The Advanced High-Temperature Reactor (AHTR) concept leverages a particle-based fuel format consisting of discrete spherical graphite pebbles arrayed in a packed bed architecture. Thermal regulation achieved via flow of gas (e.g., helium) or liquid (e.g., molten salt) coolants through the void … [Read more...]

Tagged With: high temperature gas cooled reactors

Pressurized Thermal Shock (PTS) Facility: “The Cold Leg Mixing CFD-UQ benchmark”

PTS Facility

The 5th benchmark of CFD applications to Nuclear reactor safety has been approved by CSNI. Its main objective is to go a step further in the application of single-phase CFD to nuclear safety issues with mixing problems possibly in presence of buoyancy effects. The Pressurized Thermal Shock (PTS) … [Read more...]

Tagged With: light water reactor, Validation & Verification Benchmark

The Generic Safety Issue 191

Core Layout/Profile

Our research team, in collaboration with the South Texas Project Nuclear Operating Company (STPNOC), has solved the Generic Safety Issue (GSI) - 191, a problem resulting from a loss of coolant accident in a nuclear reactor, which can cause debris to be generated and potentially impact the … [Read more...]

Tagged With: light water reactor

Experimental Studies of PWR 5×5 Fuel Bundles

Fuel assemblies of pressurized water reactors (PWRs) are constructed from fuel rods and supports to create rod bundles. To support and maintain the lateral spatial gaps of the rods, support grids are positioned at regular intervals in the direction of axial flow. With the presence of the spacer … [Read more...]

Tagged With: light water reactor

The V&V Benchmark Problem: Twin Jet Experimental Facility

Twin-Jets Facility

In early 2016, the ASME Verification and Validation in Computational Nuclear System Thermal Fluids Behavior Committee (ASME V&V30 Standard Committee) has selected the high-fidelity experimental data obtained in the Twin Jets experimental facility as the first V&V benchmark problem. The … [Read more...]

Tagged With: Validation & Verification Benchmark

Subcooled Flow Boiling Experiments

Subcooled Experiments

Subcooled flow boiling experimental benchmarks in simple geometries are part of an ongoing two-phase flow fundamental research performed at the Thermal-hydraulics laboratory in the Nuclear Engineering Department. State-of-the-art visualization techniques are simultaneously implemented, … [Read more...]

Tagged With: light water reactor

GSI-191

Short Summary:The thermal-hydraulic team has actively contributed to the Generic Safety Issue (GSI) 191 resolution project, developing computational and experimental capabilities and supporting the nuclear power industry with thermal-hydraulic analyses of different aspects of the issue.Abstract:The … [Read more...]

Steam Condensation Test Facility

Steam Condensation Facility

The steam-air condensation facility investigates the phenomena of direct contact condensation that occurs when steam comes in direct contact with water creating a violent and complicated exchange of mass and energy. The heat transfer coefficient between the steam and water is calculated, as well as … [Read more...]

Tagged With: light water reactor

Evaluation and Testing of HTGR Reactor Building Response to Depressurization Accidents

NGNP Test Facility

The analysis and understanding of air ingress events are an important aspect of the design of high-temperature gas-cooled reactor (HTGR). During accident conditions (depressurized loss of forced cooling, D-LOFC) air may enter into the reactor pressure vessel as a result of a break in the helium … [Read more...]

Tagged With: high temperature gas cooled reactors

Critical Heat Flux Test Facility

CHF Facility

The Critical Heat Flux / Departure from Nucleate Boiling test loop provides a means of evaluating the DNB performance of test geometries representative of commercial pressurized water reactor (PWR) nuclear fuel. The test facility has operated at the Product Engineering Development Laboratory, which … [Read more...]

Tagged With: light water reactor

Contact Us

Thermal-Hydraulic Research Laboratory
Department of Nuclear Engineering
3380 University Drive East
College Station, TX 77845

ph. 979-845-4109

Thermal-Hydraulic Research Laboratory

Department of Nuclear Engineering                 3380 University Drive East
College Station, TX 77845

ph. 979-845-4109

Texas A&M University Department of Nuclear Engineering

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