This heat transfer fluid for nuclear reactors consists of colloidal diamonds that will increase the critical heat flux level by 50 percent. Approximately 11 percent of the world’s electricity comes from nuclear energy. A global reassessment of future reliance on fossil fuels has caused an increase in nuclear energy related research and development. Although research into nuclear energy has significantly increased, there are still many concerns that need to be addressed. One major problem with the feasibility of nuclear energy is the lack of an enhanced thermal transfer fluid that offers stability for pressurized water reactors. Nuclear energy needs thermal transfer fluids that will raise the critical heat flux level in order to avoid critical fuel rod failures. Researchers at The University of Florida have developed such a heat transfer fluid in the form of a diamond colloid that will increase the critical heat flux level by 50 percent.
Heat transfer fluid for increased heat flux levels in nuclear reactors
This heat transfer fluid, consisting of colloidal diamonds, will increase the critical heat flux level of pressurized water reactors by 50 percent. A pressurized water reactor comprises a core including fuel assemblies that contain fuel rods filled with fuel pellets thermally coupled to a steam generator, a turbine, and a condenser coupled to a water based cooling system. The water based cooling system comprises a heat transfer fluid of multiple colloidal diamonds. The diamond particles, which can be natural or synthetic, have an average size of 1 nm to 2 microns. The concentration of diamond particles ranges from 0.0001 to 10 percent of the total volume of heat transfer fluid.
