221 research outputs found
LWR core thermal-hydraulic analysis : assessment and comparison of the range of applicability of the codes COBRA IIIC/MIT and COBRA IV-I
Based on the M.S. thesis of the first author in the M.I.T. Dept. of Nuclear Engineering, 1978.This report summarizes the result of studies concerning the range of
applicability of two subchannel codes for a variety of thermal-hydraulic
analyses. The subchannel codes used include COBRA IIIC/MIT and the
newly developed code, COBRA IV-I which is considered the benchmark
code for the purpose of this report. Hence, through the comparisons
of the two codes, the applicability of COBRA IIIC/MIT is assessed
with respect to COBRA IV-I.
A variety of LWR thermal-hydraulic analyses are examined. Results
of both codes for steady-state and transient analyses are compared.
The types of analysis include BWR bundle-wide analysis, a simulated rod
ejection and loss of flow transients for a PWR. The system parameters
were changed drastically to reach extreme coolant conditions, thereby
establishing upper limits.
In addition to these cases, both codes are compared to experimental
data including measured coolant exit temperatures in a core, interbundle
mixing for inlet flow upset cases and two-subchannel flow blockage
measurements.
The comparisons showed that, overall, COBRA IIIC/MIT predicts most
thermal-hydraulic parameters quite satisfactorily. However, the clad
temperature predictions differ from those calculated by COBRA IV-I and
appear to be in error. These incorrect predictions are caused by the
discontinuity in the heat transfer coefficient at the start of boiling.
Hence, if the heat transfer package is corrected, then COBRA IIIC/MIT
should be just as applicable as the implicit option of COBRA IV-I.Final report for research project sponsored by Long Island Lighting Company and others under the MIT Energy Laboratory Electric Utility Program
Reactor core thermal-hydraulic analysis ; improvement and application of the code COBRA-IIICMIT
Several improvements have been made to COBRA-IIIC/MIT. All of the improvements, except for one, have been made in response to the recommendations of past research. The improvements are included in a new version of the code as new modeling options. The new modeling options overcome limitations and disadvantages of old modeling options. The improvements are as follows: 1. Addition of a new fuel pin conduction model which includes temperature dependent properties and burnup dependent gap heat transfer coefficient. 2. Addition of a new heat transfer package which covers a broad range of flow regimes and contains more consistent logic. 3. Addition of a quality dependent mixing model for two-phase flow. 4. Addition of new correlations for BWR, CHFR and CPR calculation. 5. Addition of new options for calculating transverse momentum coupling parameters use for the single pass method.The improvements have been tested individually and during application of the improved code to transient PWR and BWR test cases. Testing mainly involved comparison of the predictions of different modeling options and in some instances, comparison of predictions with experimental measurements. MDNBR, MCPR and MCHFR predictions showed only small sensitivities to the fuel rod and heat transfer modeling options used for the test cases analyzed. Differences in predictions of the old and new heat transfer models resulted in different clad temperature predictions. Clad temperature varies more smoothly in the axial direction when the new heat transfer model is used. The new heat transfer model predictions vary smoothly from one time step to the next with changing coolant conditions. Discontinuous change in old heat transfer model predictions caused failure of the flow solution to converge during transient BWR analysis. Fuel rod surface heat flux predictions of the old and new fuel rod models were close even though fuel rod temperature predictions showed some differences. The new mixing model did not improve subchannel flow and enthalpy predictions for BWR conditions. However, some improvement was seen in predictions for sub-cooled conditions. The CISE-4 MCPR predictions were in agreement with experimental CHF measurements. Hench- Levy MCHFR predictions were conservative for the CHF test cases. The new transverse momentum parameters had no significant effect on steady state hot channel predictions of the single-pass method
Shock formation and the ideal shape of ramp compression waves
We derive expressions for shock formation based on the local curvature of the
flow characteristics during dynamic compression. Given a specific ramp adiabat,
calculated for instance from the equation of state for a substance, the ideal
nonlinear shape for an applied ramp loading history can be determined. We
discuss the region affected by lateral release, which can be presented in
compact form for the ideal loading history. Example calculations are given for
representative metals and plastic ablators. Continuum dynamics (hydrocode)
simulations were in good agreement with the algebraic forms. Example
applications are presented for several classes of laser-loading experiment,
identifying conditions where shocks are desired but not formed, and where long
duration ramps are desired
Prime Focus Spectrograph - Subaru's future -
The Prime Focus Spectrograph (PFS) of the Subaru Measurement of Images and
Redshifts (SuMIRe) project has been endorsed by Japanese community as one of
the main future instruments of the Subaru 8.2-meter telescope at Mauna Kea,
Hawaii. This optical/near-infrared multi-fiber spectrograph targets cosmology
with galaxy surveys, Galactic archaeology, and studies of galaxy/AGN evolution.
Taking advantage of Subaru's wide field of view, which is further extended with
the recently completed Wide Field Corrector, PFS will enable us to carry out
multi-fiber spectroscopy of 2400 targets within 1.3 degree diameter. A
microlens is attached at each fiber entrance for F-ratio transformation into a
larger one so that difficulties of spectrograph design are eased. Fibers are
accurately placed onto target positions by positioners, each of which consists
of two stages of piezo-electric rotary motors, through iterations by using
back-illuminated fiber position measurements with a wide-field metrology
camera. Fibers then carry light to a set of four identical fast-Schmidt
spectrographs with three color arms each: the wavelength ranges from 0.38
{\mu}m to 1.3 {\mu}m will be simultaneously observed with an average resolving
power of 3000. Before and during the era of extremely large telescopes, PFS
will provide the unique capability of obtaining spectra of 2400
cosmological/astrophysical targets simultaneously with an 8-10 meter class
telescope. The PFS collaboration, led by IPMU, consists of USP/LNA in Brazil,
Caltech/JPL, Princeton, & JHU in USA, LAM in France, ASIAA in Taiwan, and
NAOJ/Subaru.Comment: 13 pages, 11 figures, submitted to "Ground-based and Airborne
Instrumentation for Astronomy IV, Ian S. McLean, Suzanne K. Ramsay, Hideki
Takami, Editors, Proc. SPIE 8446 (2012)
Recommended from our members
The clustering of galaxies in the SDSS-III Baryon Oscillation Spectroscopic Survey: Baryon Acoustic Oscillations in the Data Release 9 Spectroscopic Galaxy Sample
We present measurements of galaxy clustering from the Baryon Oscillation
Spectroscopic Survey (BOSS), which is part of the Sloan Digital Sky Survey III
(SDSS-III). These use the Data Release 9 (DR9) CMASS sample, which contains
264,283 massive galaxies covering 3275 square degrees with an effective
redshift z=0.57 and redshift range 0.43 < z < 0.7. Assuming a concordance
Lambda-CDM cosmological model, this sample covers an effective volume of 2.2
Gpc^3, and represents the largest sample of the Universe ever surveyed at this
density, n = 3 x 10^-4 h^-3 Mpc^3. We measure the angle-averaged galaxy
correlation function and power spectrum, including density-field reconstruction
of the baryon acoustic oscillation (BAO) feature. The acoustic features are
detected at a significance of 5\sigma in both the correlation function and
power spectrum. Combining with the SDSS-II Luminous Red Galaxy Sample, the
detection significance increases to 6.7\sigma. Fitting for the position of the
acoustic features measures the distance to z=0.57 relative to the sound horizon
DV /rs = 13.67 +/- 0.22 at z=0.57. Assuming a fiducial sound horizon of 153.19
Mpc, which matches cosmic microwave background constraints, this corresponds to
a distance DV(z=0.57) = 2094 +/- 34 Mpc. At 1.7 per cent, this is the most
precise distance constraint ever obtained from a galaxy survey. We place this
result alongside previous BAO measurements in a cosmological distance ladder
and find excellent agreement with the current supernova measurements. We use
these distance measurements to constrain various cosmological models, finding
continuing support for a flat Universe with a cosmological constant.Comment: 33 page
Selective Uncoupling of Individual Mitochondria within a Cell Using a Mitochondria-Targeted Photoactivated Protonophore
Depolarization of an individual mitochondrion or small clusters of mitochondria within cells has been achieved using a photoactivatable probe. The probe is targeted to the matrix of the mitochondrion by an alkyltriphenylphosphonium lipophilic cation and releases the protonophore 2,4-dinitrophenol locally in predetermined regions in response to directed irradiation with UV light via a local photolysis system. This also provides a proof of principle for the general temporally and spatially controlled release of bioactive molecules, pharmacophores, or toxins to mitochondria with tissue, cell, or mitochondrion specificity
Prime Focus Spectrograph (PFS) for the Subaru Telescope: Overview, recent progress, and future perspectives
PFS (Prime Focus Spectrograph), a next generation facility instrument on the
8.2-meter Subaru Telescope, is a very wide-field, massively multiplexed,
optical and near-infrared spectrograph. Exploiting the Subaru prime focus, 2394
reconfigurable fibers will be distributed over the 1.3 deg field of view. The
spectrograph has been designed with 3 arms of blue, red, and near-infrared
cameras to simultaneously observe spectra from 380nm to 1260nm in one exposure
at a resolution of ~1.6-2.7A. An international collaboration is developing this
instrument under the initiative of Kavli IPMU. The project is now going into
the construction phase aiming at undertaking system integration in 2017-2018
and subsequently carrying out engineering operations in 2018-2019. This article
gives an overview of the instrument, current project status and future paths
forward.Comment: 17 pages, 10 figures. Proceeding of SPIE Astronomical Telescopes and
Instrumentation 201
Simplified Models for LHC New Physics Searches
This document proposes a collection of simplified models relevant to the
design of new-physics searches at the LHC and the characterization of their
results. Both ATLAS and CMS have already presented some results in terms of
simplified models, and we encourage them to continue and expand this effort,
which supplements both signature-based results and benchmark model
interpretations. A simplified model is defined by an effective Lagrangian
describing the interactions of a small number of new particles. Simplified
models can equally well be described by a small number of masses and
cross-sections. These parameters are directly related to collider physics
observables, making simplified models a particularly effective framework for
evaluating searches and a useful starting point for characterizing positive
signals of new physics. This document serves as an official summary of the
results from the "Topologies for Early LHC Searches" workshop, held at SLAC in
September of 2010, the purpose of which was to develop a set of representative
models that can be used to cover all relevant phase space in experimental
searches. Particular emphasis is placed on searches relevant for the first
~50-500 pb-1 of data and those motivated by supersymmetric models. This note
largely summarizes material posted at http://lhcnewphysics.org/, which includes
simplified model definitions, Monte Carlo material, and supporting contacts
within the theory community. We also comment on future developments that may be
useful as more data is gathered and analyzed by the experiments.Comment: 40 pages, 2 figures. This document is the official summary of results
from "Topologies for Early LHC Searches" workshop (SLAC, September 2010).
Supplementary material can be found at http://lhcnewphysics.or
The Baryon Oscillation Spectroscopic Survey of SDSS-III
The Baryon Oscillation Spectroscopic Survey (BOSS) is designed to measure the
scale of baryon acoustic oscillations (BAO) in the clustering of matter over a
larger volume than the combined efforts of all previous spectroscopic surveys
of large scale structure. BOSS uses 1.5 million luminous galaxies as faint as
i=19.9 over 10,000 square degrees to measure BAO to redshifts z<0.7.
Observations of neutral hydrogen in the Lyman alpha forest in more than 150,000
quasar spectra (g<22) will constrain BAO over the redshift range 2.15<z<3.5.
Early results from BOSS include the first detection of the large-scale
three-dimensional clustering of the Lyman alpha forest and a strong detection
from the Data Release 9 data set of the BAO in the clustering of massive
galaxies at an effective redshift z = 0.57. We project that BOSS will yield
measurements of the angular diameter distance D_A to an accuracy of 1.0% at
redshifts z=0.3 and z=0.57 and measurements of H(z) to 1.8% and 1.7% at the
same redshifts. Forecasts for Lyman alpha forest constraints predict a
measurement of an overall dilation factor that scales the highly degenerate
D_A(z) and H^{-1}(z) parameters to an accuracy of 1.9% at z~2.5 when the survey
is complete. Here, we provide an overview of the selection of spectroscopic
targets, planning of observations, and analysis of data and data quality of
BOSS.Comment: 49 pages, 16 figures, accepted by A
The Seventh Data Release of the Sloan Digital Sky Survey
This paper describes the Seventh Data Release of the Sloan Digital Sky Survey
(SDSS), marking the completion of the original goals of the SDSS and the end of
the phase known as SDSS-II. It includes 11663 deg^2 of imaging data, with most
of the roughly 2000 deg^2 increment over the previous data release lying in
regions of low Galactic latitude. The catalog contains five-band photometry for
357 million distinct objects. The survey also includes repeat photometry over
250 deg^2 along the Celestial Equator in the Southern Galactic Cap. A
coaddition of these data goes roughly two magnitudes fainter than the main
survey. The spectroscopy is now complete over a contiguous area of 7500 deg^2
in the Northern Galactic Cap, closing the gap that was present in previous data
releases. There are over 1.6 million spectra in total, including 930,000
galaxies, 120,000 quasars, and 460,000 stars. The data release includes
improved stellar photometry at low Galactic latitude. The astrometry has all
been recalibrated with the second version of the USNO CCD Astrograph Catalog
(UCAC-2), reducing the rms statistical errors at the bright end to 45
milli-arcseconds per coordinate. A systematic error in bright galaxy photometr
is less severe than previously reported for the majority of galaxies. Finally,
we describe a series of improvements to the spectroscopic reductions, including
better flat-fielding and improved wavelength calibration at the blue end,
better processing of objects with extremely strong narrow emission lines, and
an improved determination of stellar metallicities. (Abridged)Comment: 20 pages, 10 embedded figures. Accepted to ApJS after minor
correction
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