Theses and Dissertations Collection

The VTR is a new research reactor that uses a Dump Heat Exchanger (DHX) to transfer heat from sodium to the surrounding air. A DHX is used in place of a power cycle for a testing reactor to displace the heat from the secondary loop. An analysis of the existing heat exchanger, a cross-flow design, was completed. Possible heat exchanger options, a shell-and-tube and an annulus heat exchanger, were investigated. Using Aspen HYSYS several iterations of analysis were completed. Sodium data from Argonne National Laboratory (ANL) was inputted into HYSYS to be used with all the models. It was found that having a slower flow rate for air passing through the heat exchanger was instrumental to improving the initial cross-flow design. Upon comparing the other design types with the initial cross-flow design based on footprint, volume of material, and weight, the shell and tube heat exchangers were the best option followed by the annulus heat exchangers and finally the original cross-flow design. Out of two possible shell and tube heat exchanger designs investigated the one that contained 100 tubes was the better option.