CPC(HEP & NP), 2009, 33(X): 1—3 Chinese Physics C Vol. 33, No. X, Xxx, 2009
Thermodynamic optimization of nickel catalyzed reactor in Low Energy Nuclear Reaction (LENR) *
1) 2) WOO Taeho YOON Jaehwan
1 Department of Nuclear Engineering, Seoul National University, Gwanak 599, Gwanak-ro, Gwanak-gu, Seoul, 151-742, Republic of Korea 2 G-PEM Engineers, Inc., 235 Guro 3-Dong, Guro-gu, Seoul, 152-053, Republic of Korea
Abstract: The low energy nuclear reaction (LENR) is modeled for the commercial reactor productions. The E-cat of Rossi’s megawatt level is simulated for the electricity generations. The main problem of the irregular heat production is solved by the mass flow rate of the coolant. The engineering aspect could enhance the performance of the reactor capability. The results show the mass flow rate for 1000 and 10000 minutes, which are sued for the constant power as a level of megawatt thermal power. Using this data the regulated power production is possible for the commercialization. The power production of the clean energy using LENR shows the possibility of the new innovation of the next generation energy challenge. Key words: Application of Monte-Carlo method, Heaters, Energy, Mont-Carlo simulations
PACS: 02.70.Uu, 07.20.Hy, 24.10.Lx
1 Introduction However, there are several particular and profound researches progresses. Dr. G. Miley, director of the Fusion Studies Laboratory at the University of Illinois, Urbana,
and former editor of the American Nuclear Society’s The commercial usage of the nuclear power is journal Fusion Technology, published a 2003 survey, investigated for the higher efficient power productions. ‘Review of Transmutation Reactions in Solids’. He The Defkalion Green Technologies S. A. was established mentioned the LENR heavy element transmutation in Greece to manufacture and market products based on evidence reported by 15 independent laboratories [3-5]. In the energy catalyzer (E-Cat), which was invented by addition, the significantly different group of experiments Andrea Rossi [1]. The product name is Hyperion. This was performed in the 1990s by researchers at Siena company is undertaking a performance from invention to University in Italy. S. Focardi and F. Piantelli used industrialization as the global standard. There is a hydrogen gas in combination with nickel rods [6]. The specification in Table 1. researches said several experiments, reporting 18 and 72
W of excess heat. There were some interesting reports as
some nuclear reaction evidences of neutrons, gamma rays, Table 1. Specification of Hyperion reactor. charged particles, and the presence of anomalous elements. For the very ambitious study result, S. Focardi and A. Rossi held a press conference at the University of Bologna. It was reported that it demonstrated a 10 kilowatt nickel- light water cold fusion reactor. Additionally, his test employed a new, smaller device with a 50 cm3 cell. It produced ~ 4.4 kW for 6 hours, or 25 kWh (90 MJ). Later, Historically, the new kind of energy source is the 1st commercial company opens as Defkalion Green investigated. The atomic lattice related energy is proposed Technologies S.A. in Greece where they used the nickel to the nuclear reactions in 1989. It is suggested that Low based electrode [1]. The commercial marketing is to make energy nuclear reaction (LENR) is for the the water boiler using the LENR. It is considered that this commercialization by the water heaters which could be a function is similar to the conventional nuclear energy possible energy production of the electricity generations. power plant where the production steam runs the turbine The regulated power production is very important for the to generate the electricity. commercialization. So, the coolant flow rate is used for The atomic and physical properties of nickel are that a the constant energy generations. silvery-white metal with a slight golden tinge that takes a The electrochemists M. Fleischmann and S. Pons high polish. One of only four elements is magnetic at or claimed in a press conference at the University of Utah near room temperature. According to literature, it is the that they had achieved nuclear fusion in a tabletop transition metals with hard and ductile material [7]. chemistry experiment [2]. The evidence of fusion is now There is background for the modeling which is shown called LENR research which has grown only slightly in the 2nd section. The 3rd section explains the method of stronger. The hypothesis that a novel form of the study. The 4th section describes results of the study. thermonuclear fusion was responsible for their There are some conclusions in 5th section. experimental results is still controversial, currently.
CPC(HEP & NP), 2009, 33(X): 1—3 Chinese Physics C Vol. 33, No. X, Xxx, 2009
2 Background
According to the Rossi and Foccardi, they have unquestionably succeeded with their invention, which is a cheap, clean, stable and safe method of producing heat from hydrogen and nickel reactions [1]. It is to suggest a new global energy era with profound and unequivocally positive social, economic and environmental implications. This field of energy research is called as the cold fusion which has positive and negative connotations, also called LENR. It is understood hundreds of man-years of research have been committed to cold fusion, hoping to Fig. 2. Configuration for reactor and electricity generator. achieve the ultimate energy dream as the limitless energy. However, overall, a stigma has created ambiguous feelings that the researchers aim to reach the end of the The performance of the heat production is connected rainbow. It is an exothermic reaction between Nickel and to the electricity generator. The mass flow rate can Hydrogen that gives off heat; cheap, clean and green heat. regulate the power productions. The equations are as It is considered that this is a completely new field of follows; science, one that is full of opportunities and challenges. This is a totally new emerging industry that will · DDQ= rTvAc (3.1) eventually revolutionize the energy sector. It is suggested p that it will require long and complex scientific exchanges far into the future. where, Q=heat · m= r vA= mass flow rate 3 Method r=mass density v=velocity
The company is ready to provide its full support to the A=area scientific community at large in order to establish a global platform in this direction. The science elements of Rossi’s So, invention have been fully documented and extensively ·· discussed online, with scientific papers as well as online D·D·Q= mT c (3.2) scientific exchanges. For the simplified configuration, the p Fig. 1 is the Configuration for reactor (A : body of E-cat, B : Hydrogen canister, C : Monitor and control Therefore, if it is needed to make the constant temperature, heat is variable to the mass flow rate. The coolant is equipments). Fig. 2 is the configuration for reactor and o electricity generator, where the pump is used to control of glycol. Heat capacity is assumed as 0.689 Btu/lb F at 240 oF. So, the value is 2884.7052 (=0.689 × 4186.8) J/(kg K) the coolant speed. o at 115.6 C. The T is variable due to the hot leg is changeable. In order to make constant Q, mass flow rate should be changeable. So, when T is 100 oC and mass flow rate is 5 kg/sec, the Q is 1.4423526 MW. The equations is as follows,
· DQ · = m (3.3) D·T cp
· · DQJsec1442352 6 (3.4) m== D·T ctp -15 6 · 284 7052 JkgK
· Fig. 1. Configuration for reactor (A : body of E-cat, B : m·- t15 6 K= 5 kg/sec · 115 6 - 15 6 K= 500 kg/sec · K Hydrogen canister, C : Monitor and control (3.5) equipments). where t is changeable by random sampling in Monte- Carlo simulation. So, 5 kg/sec is a minimum value. The maximum values are shown in Fig. 3 and 4.
4 Results CPC(HEP & NP), 2009, 33(X): 1—3 Chinese Physics C Vol. 33, No. X, Xxx, 2009
Comparing to the conventional nuclear fission power The calculations with the generated random numbers reactor, there are several kinds of advantageous points in are performed by the Vensim code system, which is seen Rossi’s LENR. as a variable t. The Vensim is made for developing, analyzing, and packaging high quality dynamic models Stable power production is achieved with [8]. These models are constructed graphically or in a text the coolant flows. Very cheap equipments could make megawatt level electricity power production be possible. The LENR is used as the commercialization. The non-hazard radioactive pollutions are expected comparing to the conventional NPPs. More possible applications for commercialization are expected.
For the future study, the theoretical investigations are necessary to make the regularized facility. The nano- scopic applications of the LENR are challengeable for the better efficient power productions. In addition, the LENR energy productions are applicable to some industries with Fig. 3. Mass flow rate for glycol coolant (Max. = 1000 no pollutions. This is fundamentally different from the min.). conventional nuclear power energy where the nuclear reactions make the hazardous radioactive materials. Therefore the effect of this new kind of power source can give the clean energy promotions in which the solar and wind energies have been studied in the aspect of the substitutions of the coal, oil and even the nuclear power plant of atomic fission energy. However, it is necessary to construct the standard of the LENR energy commercialization. In the paper, the constant heat production using control the mass flow rate is proposed. Basically, the pattern of the irregular heat production in LENR is not known. One can know just the result of the computer simulations by the assumptions of the random sampling which is based on the application Monte-Carlo method. By the way, in the early history of the first nuclear reactor, Chicago pile-1 (CP-1) [9], by Dr. Fig. 4. Mass flow rate for glycol coolant (Max. = 10000 Enrico Fermi in the University of Chicago, the regulated min.). neutron transport was not known exactly. The scientists could moderate and block by carbon without leak of neutron in the reactor core. Similarly, one can just editor. Using the code system, the features include produce the heat of LENR in the crude type reactor in the dynamic functions, subscripting (arrays), Monte-Carlo E-Cat. Hence, the simulation of the possible scenarios of sensitivity analysis, optimization, data handling, the heat production is very important. Next step is to application interfaces, and more [8]. The calculations are compare between the simulations and the operation data. shown in mass flow rate for 1000 and 10000 minutes. The Then, one can predict the heat production in the Fig. 3 and 4 shows the trend of mass flow rates. One can assumptions of the error ranges. Finally, the formalized expect the result of necessity mass flow rate for the theory in E-Cat could be introduced by the several constant power productions. conditions. The E-cat is able to the goods in the market with highly completive capability. So, the above step is a kind of procedure of the making a new energy source. Fig. 5 shows the procedure of the new energy source 5 Conclusions production where a new kind of energy source is
commercialized. The LENR has the possibility for the energy source with the constant power productions. It is very important to make the constant energy generations, because the LENR theory is not proved yet. So, it is necessary to adjunct the method for the commercialization. The mass flow rate of the coolant can solve the difficulty of the stable energy generation in LENR. This gives the new kind of industrial applications for the commercial usages. CPC(HEP & NP), 2009, 33(X): 1—3 Chinese Physics C Vol. 33, No. X, Xxx, 2009
Fig. 5. Procedure of the new energy source production.
References
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