Myrrha primary heat exchanger tube rupture: Phenomenology and evolution

In the framework of MYRRHA Project, a pool-type experimental and material testing irradiation facility operated with Lead Bismuth Eutectic (LBE) coolant and able to operate in both sub-critical and critical mode is designed to be built in Mol, Belgium, in SCK\u2022CEN domain. In addition to the material testing function, targets of the MYRRHA reactor are to prove the feasibility of the ADS technology as Minor Actinides (MAs) burner and to act as a demonstrative plant for future Gen-IV heavy metal cooled reactors. SCK\u2022CEN entered the pre-licensing phase for the MYRRHA reactor. In order to provide the safety authority all the required data, a complete safety analysis must be performed, studying the transients defined by the list of postulating initiating events. In particular, an accident with potential serious consequences is the Primary Heat Exchanger Tube Rupture (PHXTR), involving the sudden release of single phase or two-phase water from a tube break in a hot liquid metal pool. This accident evolution is strongly characterized by the design of the MYRRHA Primary Heat eXchanger (PHX) and its direct surroundings in the reactor vessel and by the thermal-hydraulical conditions of the MYRRHA primary and secondary cooling system. In the first phase of a PHXTR accident, the water in the Secondary Cooling System (SCS) is released in the Primary System (PS) pool in regime of choked flow due to the pressure difference. Being the water released in an overheated, low-pressure environment, a flashing with potential sudden specific volume increase is expected. The heat transfer phenomena leading to the phase change velocity depend by the actual number of bubbles released in the hot liquid metal pool, function of the actual break size and shape. Its characterization is important for the definition of the overall specific volume increase and for the estimation of the water mass fraction redirected through the Primary Pump in the reactor Lower Plenum, with the risk of void insertion in the core and consequent reactivity excursion. A simplified calculation model to evaluate the history of any given bubble distribution generated by any water flow rate through any break has been set up. The main purpose is to describe the evolution of the main system state variables during the accidental event, by checking the potential insurgency of any reactor safety issue due to pressure peaks or core void insertions

Ceramic-faience hybrids were used to recycle bronze in North-Western European Iron Age egg-shaped crucibles

We investigated the characteristics of a group of 13 Middle Iron Age egg-shaped crucibles and crucible fragments from Tilburg (The Netherlands). We used a combination of optical and chemical analyses, including hand-held XRF, microCT scanning and 3-D printing polarizing light microscopy and SEM-EDX. The chemical analyses confirmed that the crucibles were used for copper alloy metallurgy. Impressions in the lids of the crucibles turned out to be imprints of copper alloy scrap, including fragments of twisted wire and fibulae. Most remarkable, however, is the large proportion of sheet metal among the scrap.In order to make crucibles from the local, non-refractory clays, a hitherto unknown ceramic-faience hybrid was used: A combination of clay and halophytic plant ash was mixed with silt into a paste, and this was used to construct the crucible. During firing, the flux would promote melting of the clays and probably prevent catastrophic failure of the crucibles. The resulting glassy groundmass – in which silt grains are embedded and partially dissolved – is rich in Al2O3 as well as in Na2O, K2O, CaO, MgO and Fe2O3.It is likely that this technique of crucible manufacture was widespread in Late Prehistory in areas where no refractory clays were available

Investigation of the natural sand transport on the Belgian Continental shelf: BUDGET (<u>B</u>eneficial <u>u</u>sage of <u>d</u>ata and <u>g</u>eo-<u>e</u>nvironmental <u>t</u>echniques)

On the Belgian continental shelf (BCS), a variety of sediment dynamical studies have been performed both by governmental organisations and research institutions. Each study proposed to achieve a better insight in the sediment dynamical processes taking place on a specific spatial scale and during a particular time period. However, all these studies contain a piece of information, which contribute to the global sediment dynamical behaviour of the sediments of the BCS.In the course of the project, an overview has been produced of all these studies. Most of the data has been re-evaluated and the results were compiled in a synthesis map to characterise the natural sand transport on the Belgian continental shelf. The map indicates the general nature of the surficial sediments superimposed with the occurrence of larger bedforms. Additionally, areas are indicated where the thickness of the quaternary deposits is less than 2.5 mas these sediments might take part in the sediment transport process. To illustrate the hydrodynamics of the BCS, current ellipses have been selected based on modelling results on a 750 mgrid resolution and locations were indicated where current meter or other hydrodynamic data has been collected. Towards the directions of sediment transport, a variety of arrows are drawn whereby a distinction is made between transport vectors based on geo-environmental methods and those based on in-situ sediment transport measurements and on modelling results. If available, quantities are added uniformised in tonnes/m/day.The study also included a critical analysis of the data and methods used. The deduction of residual transport directions was evaluated on the basis of the asymmetry of bedforms, tracer experiments, sediment differentiation, current and suspended sediment concentration measurements and based on numerical sediment transport modelling. Evaluation criteria were set-up regarding the different space and time scales involved. The influence of hydro-meteorological conditions on the sediment dynamics was discussed.The results allowed defining gaps in the present knowledge and including recommendations for future research and propositions for an integrated research programme on the Belgian continental shelf. Main emphasis is put on an efficient mapping of the seafloor including the set-up of an automated characterisation of seabed sediments albeit combined with a suitable sampling strategy. Regarding hydrodynamical and sand transport measurements, the development of a multi-sensor bottom frame is recommended including a realistic quantification of sediment fluxes through the water column.To enhance the efficiency and practical use of seabed data, the set-up of an overall Geographical Information System (GIS) is highly recommended including guidelines and protocols on the prerequisites of mapping and sampling projects since this would largely facilitate the set-up and evaluation of environmental impact assessments. The project largely benefited from contributions from foreign researchers from France, England and the Netherlands

Annual variability in the seasonal cycles of chlorophyll, nutrients and zooplankton on the North-West European continental shelf

Seasonal cycles of salinity, nutrients, chlorophyll and zooplankton at 8 locations on the West-European shelf were analysed with respect to their timing and magnitude in the period 1980-1984. A late spring bloom with low chlorophyll values (2-4 mg.m-³) is observed in the Irish Sea, off the Scottish east coast and the Channel entrance. An early spring bloom and relatively high chlorophyll values (7-12 mg.m-³) are found in the southern Bight and the Skagerrak, whereas a late spring bloom with high chlorophyll concentrations (24 mg.m-³) is found along the Dutch and Belgian coast. In contrast to the other regions, the peak of the phytoplankton cycle in the German Bight (Helgoland) occurs in the summer period instead of the spring period. The peak in the yearly abundance of copepods shifts from May-June in the south to July-August in the north of the shelf. In the Irish Sea and the Channel entrance two seasonal copepods peaks are observed. The January nitrate values in Irish Sea, the southern Bight and the Skagerrak are about 20 % higher than those in the Atlantic input signal in the Channel entrance and east off Scotland. The January DIP values in these regions are comparable to those of the input signal, but the Irish Sea forms an exception here the level is increased by 10-20%. If compared with the Atlantic input signal the January values for nitrate and DIP at the Dutch and Belgium coast are about 10 and 4, and in the German Bight (Helgoland) 4 and 3 times higher, respectively. At most sites changes in the seasonal cycles of chorophyll coincide with changes in nutrient concentrations, wheras the maximum level of the seasonal signal is related to the nutrient levels

Observables of interest for the characterisation of Spent Nuclear Fuel

The characterisation of Spent Nuclear Fuel (SNF) in view of intermediate storage and final disposal is discussed. The main observables of interest that need to be determined are the decay heat, neutron and -ray emission spectra. In addition, the inventory of specific nuclides that are important for criticality safety analysis and to verify the fuel history has to be determined. Some of the observables such as the decay heat and neutron and -ray emission rate can be determined by Non-Destructive Analysis (NDA) methods. Unfortunately, this is not always possible especially during routine operation. Hence, a characterisation of SNF will rely on theoretical calculations combined with results of NDA methods. In this work the observables of interest, also referred to as source terms, are discussed based on theoretical calculations starting from fresh UO2 and MOX fuel. The irradiation conditions are representative for PWR. The Serpent code is used to define the nuclides which have an important contribution to the observables. The emphasis is on cooling times between 1 a and 1000 a.JRC.G.2-Standards for Nuclear Safety, Security and Safeguard

Geological resource management of the future: Drilling down the possibilities

Management of geological resources is based, ideally, on information on the quality and quantity of surface and subsurface litho-stratigraphical properties. Increasingly, these data become available for the offshore realm, though the integration into manageable and user-friendly applications is still at its infancy. Building on expertise from on-land data mining, we are now in the phase of creating 3D voxel models allowing for multi criteria resource volume calculations. The underlying data will be subdued to uncertainty modelling, a necessary step to produce data products with confidence limits. Anticipating on the dynamic nature of the marine environment, we aim at coupling the voxel model to environmental impact models to calculate resource depletion and regeneration, based on geological boundary conditions. In combination with anticipated impacts on fauna and flora, mining thresholds will be defined. All of the information is integrated into a decision support system for easy querying and online visualizations . The main aim is to provide long-term predictions on resource quantities to ensure future developments for the benefit of society and our future generations

Medicine-Based Evidence in Congenital Heart Disease: How Artificial Intelligence Can Guide Treatment Decisions for Individual Patients

Built on the foundation of the randomized controlled trial (RCT), Evidence Based Medicine (EBM) is at its best when optimizing outcomes for homogeneous cohorts of patients like those participating in an RCT. Its weakness is a failure to resolve a clinical quandary: patients appear for care individually, each may differ in important ways from an RCT cohort, and the physician will wonder each time if following EBM will provide best guidance for this unique patient. In an effort to overcome this weakness, and promote higher quality care through a more personalized approach, a new framework has been proposed: Medicine-Based Evidence (MBE). In this approach, big data and deep learning techniques are embraced to interrogate treatment responses among patients in real-world clinical practice. Such statistical models are then integrated with mechanistic disease models to construct a “digital twin,” which serves as the real-time digital counterpart of a patient. MBE is thereby capable of dynamically modeling the effects of various treatment decisions in the context of an individual's specific characteristics. In this article, we discuss how MBE could benefit patients with congenital heart disease, a field where RCTs are difficult to conduct and often fail to provide definitive solutions because of a small number of subjects, their clinical complexity, and heterogeneity. We will also highlight the challenges that must be addressed before MBE can be embraced in clinical practice and its full potential can be realized