(L&PTD)

Liquid Metal Magnetohydrodynamics System

A large nitrogen-mercury loop has been set up to study two-phase high density liquid metal flows and the interaction of a magnetic field with flowing mercury. The 6.5 m high system consists of mixer, riser, separator, down-comer, MHD generator, dump-tank etc. along with flow instrumentation. The system inventory is 1500 kg of mercury and is one of the largest facilities of its kind. The loop generates two-phase flow, single phase flow and MHD flow. Flow rates of nitrogen can be varied up to 11 gm/s and the corresponding mercury flow up to 60 kg/s. Photo shows the system under operation

Gamma Ray Measurement System For Void Fraction Distribution
An accurate mapping of void distribution is essential for understanding two-phase flows and to validate and develop flow models. A non-intrusive, relative intensity method,using gamma rays for void fraction measurement has been developed. The attenuation of gamma rays in two-phase liquid metal is measured using a radioactive source (60Co) of strength 100 mCi. 
An array of seven NaI (Th) detectors along with the source is mounted on a 
rotating platform to receive the fan beam gamma rays through various chords of the flow in a circular pipe. Line averaged void fraction measured along the seven chord lengths is then converted into void distribution using appropriate tomographic algorithms. 

A two-fluid model has been developed to predict the flow characteristics of two-phase liquid metal flows. Continuity and momentum equations for both the fluids have been explicitly included. A computer code has been developed based on this model and validated with measured data. 

Liquid metal MHD loop for solar energy
A computer code for designing the entire liquid metal MHD power conversion loop system appropriate for any low-grade heat source has been developed. Detailed parametric analysis has been carried out for 250 kW demonstration LMMHD system based on solar energy. A schematic of the design is shown here.

Development of Spallation Target for Accelerator Driven Sub-critical Systems (ADS)
Design of Mercury Experimental Facility for free surface fluid flow studies simulating ADS target has been finalized. This facility will be utilized to study both window as well as windowless target configuration without thermal input and also to acquire expertise in velocity field measurements using ultrasonic velocity probes.

The window target loop design consisting of both buoyancy as well as gas driven systems for the 750MW proposed fast-thermal ADS system has been carried out. The studies have been carried out both for buoyancy as well as gas-driven target systems and complete analysis of the loop consisting of spallation region, riser, two-phase flow region of the riser (for gas-driven target), heat exchanger, downcomer, etc. has been done.

Spallation studies for Accelerator driven reactors

Spallation target studies for accelerator driven subcritical reactors have been taken up. ADSS reactors which have recently been proposed are inherently safe, can utilize thorium as a fuel, and can be used for burning nuclear waste

Collaborations with other Institutions
  • D. S. Patil is principal collaborator on a project "Development of Novel Nanocrystalline Superhard Composite Coatings" under Indo-German bilateral collaboration program with Prof. S. Veprek of Technical University Munich, Germany. 
  • N. S. Dixit is principal collaborator on a project, "Experimental Investigation of the LMMHD Facility at BARC Using Techniques of Computerized Tomography" under BRNS scheme with Professor G. Biswas, Dept. of Mechanical Engg., IIT, Kanpur.
  • K. Patel is principal collaborator on a project, "Development of 3-D Electromagnetic Particle-in-Cell Code for the Study of Laser Based Accelerators and High Frequency Submillimeter Coherent Radiation Sources" under BRNS scheme with Professor A. D. Gangal, Dept. of Physics, University of Pune, Pune.
  • A.K.Das is a collaborator in a Pune University experiments on plasma assisted nanomaterials generation.
  • Alok Ray is principal collaborator on a project, "Production of Laser Grade Dyes Rhodamine 6G & Sulfor Hodamine B and for Synthesis of New Laser Dyes" under BRNS scheme with Dept. of Dye Stuff Technology, UDCT, Mumbai.
  • T. K. Thiyagarajan is principal collaborator on a project, Modeling of Heat Transfer & Fluid Flow in Plasma Mdlting System under BRNS scheme with Dr. A. W. Patwardhan, Dept. of Chemeical Technology, UDCT, Mumbai.
  • A. K. Das is principal collaborator on a project, " Production of Plasma Spray Grade Powder by Jet-Wheel Impact Atomization" under BRNS scheme with Dr. B.B. Nayar, RRL, Bhubaneshwar.
  • S. N. Sahasrabudhe is principal collaborator on a project, "Study of Radiative Emission Characteristics of Thermal Plasma" under BRNS scheme with Professor S. V. Bhoraskar, Dept. of Physics, University of Pune, Pune.
  • P. V. A. Padmanabhan is principal collaborator on a project "Plasma Spheroidization: Process Development & Modeling," under BRNS scheme with Professor V. Selvarajan, Dept. of Physics, Bharatiar Univ., Coimbatore

TOP

Laser
Plasma
Electron Beam Technology
Liquid Metal Magneto Hydrodynamics
Liquid Metal Magnetohydrodynamics System
Gamma Ray Measurement System For Void Fraction Distribution
Liquid metal MHD loop for solar energy
Development of Spallation Target for Accelerator Driven Sub-critical Systems (ADS) 
Spallation studies for Accelerator driven reactors
Collaborations with other Institutions
Awards