Assessment of Axial Power Peaking Factors in GHARR-1 LEU Core: A Decadal Simulation Analysis

This study aims to thoroughly investigate the axial power peaking factors (PPF) within the low-enriched uranium (LEU) core of the Ghana Research Reactor-1 (GHARR-1). This study uses advanced simulation tools, like the MCNPX code for analysing neutron behavior and the PARET/ANL code for understanding power variations, to get a clearer picture of the reactor’s performance. The analysis covers the initial six years of GHARR-1’s operation and includes projections for its whole 60-year lifespan. We closely observed the patterns of both the highest and average PPFs at 21 axial nodes, with measurements taken every ten years. The findings of this study reveal important patterns in power distribution within the core, which are essential for improving the safety regulations and fuel management techniques of the reactor. We provide a meticulous approach, extensive data, and an analysis of the findings, highlighting the significance of continuous monitoring and analysis for proactive management of nuclear reactors. The findings of this study not only enhance our comprehension of nuclear reactor safety but also carry significant ramifications for sustainable energy progress in Ghana and the wider global context. Nuclear engineering is essential in tackling global concerns, such as the demand for clean and dependable energy sources. Research on optimising nuclear reactors, particularly in terms of safety and efficiency, is crucial for the ongoing advancement and acceptance of nuclear energy.

Extreme value of wind-excited response considering influence of bandwidth

This paper addresses the peak factors of wind- excited responses including alongwind, acrosswind tall building responses and vortex-induced vibration considering the bandwidth parameter. The influence of bandwidth parameter on the peak factor is investigated using advanced upcrossing theory taking the bandwidth influence into account. Results show that Davenport＇s formula without consideration of bandwidth parameter servers well in general. However, the advanced upcrossing theory leads to a better prediction of the peak factor of wind-induced response of very lightly damped buildings.

Synthesis of accelerograms compatible with the Chinese GB 50011-2001 design spectrum via harmonic wavelets: artifi cial and historic records

A versatile approach is employed to generate artificial accelerograms which satisfy the compatibility criteria prescribed by the Chinese aseismic code provisions GB 50011-2001. In particular, a frequency dependent peak factor derived by means of appropriate Monte Carlo analyses is introduced to relate the GB 50011-2001 design spectrum to a parametrically defined evolutionary power spectrum （EPS）. Special attention is given to the definition of the frequency content of the EPS in order to accommodate the mathematical form of the aforementioned design spectrum. Further, a one-to-one relationship is established between the parameter controlling the time-varying intensity of the EPS and the effective strong ground motion duration. Subsequently, an efficient auto-regressive moving-average （ARMA） filtering technique is utilized to generate ensembles of non-stationary artificial accelerograms whose average response spectrum is in a close agreement with the considered design spectrum. Furthermore, a harmonic wavelet based iterative scheme is adopted to modify these artificial signals so that a close matching of the signals＇ response spectra with the GB 50011-2001 design spectrum is achieved on an individual basis. This is also done for field recorded accelerograms pertaining to the May, 2008 Wenchuan seismic event. In the process, zero-phase high-pass filtering is performed to accomplish proper baseline correction of the acquired spectrum compatible artificial and field accelerograms. Numerical results are given in a tabulated format to expedite their use in practice.

Observation and analysis of halo current in EAST

Plasma in a typically elongated cross-section tokamak （for example, EAST） is inherently unstable against vertical displacement. When plasma loses the vertical position control, it moves downward or upward, leading to disruption, and a large halo current is generated helically in EAST typically in the scrape-off layer. When flowing into the vacuum vessel through in-vessel components, the halo current will give rise to a large J × B force acting on the vessel and the in-vessel components. In EAST VDE experiment, part of the eddy current is measured in halo sensors, due to the large loop voltage. Primary experimental data demonstrate that the halo current first lands on the outer plate and then flows clockwise, and the analysis of the information indicates that the maximum halo current estimated in EAST is about 0.4 times the plasma current and the maximum value of TPF × Ih/Ip0 is 0.65, furthermore Ih/Ipo and TPF × Ih/Ipo tend to increase with the increase of Ip0. The test of the strong gas injection system shows good success in increasing the radiated power, which may be effective in reducing the halo current.

Simulation of unsteady aerodynamic loads on high-speed trains in fluctuating crosswinds

To study the unsteady aerodynamic loads of high-speed trains in fluctuating crosswinds, the fluctuating winds of a moving point shifting with high-speed trains are calculated in this paper based on Cooper theory and harmonic superposition method. The computational fluid dynamics method is used to obtain the aerodynamic load coefficients at different mean yaw angles, and the aero- dynamic admittance function is introduced to calculate unsteady aerodynamic loads of high-speed trains in fluctuating winds. Using this method, the standard deviation and maximum value of the aerodynamic force （moment） are simulated. The results show that when the train speed is fixed, the varying mean wind speeds have large impact on the fluctuating value of the wind speeds and aerodynamic loads; in contrast, when the wind speed is fixed, the varying train speeds have little impact on the fluctuating value of the wind speeds or aerodynamic loads. The ratio of standard deviation to 0.SpKU2, or maximum value to 0.5pKU2, can be expressed as the function of mean yaw angle. The peak factors of the side force and roll moment are the same （ - 3.28）, the peak factor of the lift force is - 3.33, and the peak factors of the yaw moment and pitch moment are also the same （- 3.77）.

Hydraulic characteristics of an anaerobic baffled reactor as onsite wastewater treatment system

The feasibility of using anaerobic baffled reactor （ABR） as onsite wastewater treatment system was discussed. The ABR consisted of one sedimentation chamber and three up-flow chambers in series was experimented under different peak flow factors （PFF of 1 to 6）, superficial gas velocities （between 0.6 and 3.1 cm/hr） and hydraulic retention times （HRT） （24, 36 and 48 hr）. Residence time distribution （RTD） analyses were carded out to investigate the hydraulic characteristics of the ABR. It was found that the PFF resulted in hydraulic dead space. The dead space did not exceed 13% at PFF of 1, 2 and 4 while there was 2-fold increase （26%） at PFF of 6. Superficial gas velocities did not result in more （biological） dead space. The mixing pattern of ABR tended to be a completely- mixed reactor when PFF increased. Superficial gas velocities did not affect mixing pattern. The effects of PFF on mixing pattern could be minimized by higher HRT （48 hr）. The tank-in-series （TIS） model （N = 4） was suitable to describe the hydraulic behaviour of the studied system. The HRT of 48 hr was able to maintain the mixing pattern under different flow patterns, introducing satisfactory hydraulic efficiency. Chemical oxygen demand （COD） and total suspended solids （TSS） removals under all flow patterns were achieved more than 85% and 90%, respectively. The standard deviation of effluent COD and TSS concentration did not exceed 15 mg/L.

Variations in gust factor with wind direction and height based on the measurements from a coastal tower during three landfalling typhoons

Using high-frequency onshore wind data from four different heights of a coastal tower,the variations in gust factor with turbulence intensity,height and wind speed were studied under typhoon conditions.The gust factor increases with increasing turbulence intensity and,most often,can be described by a linear relationship with the turbulence intensity.The gust factor decreases with height and is relatively small compared with those presented in the national codes and other studies.A value of 2.5 is acceptable for the peak factor,which is close to the recommended value of the national code in China.The gust factor increases with increasing wind speed and is also affected by the wind direction.The gust factor has a value to that of previously published results when the wind flows roughly perpendicular to the shoreline,and has a smaller value when the wind flows roughly parallel to the shoreline.The phenomenon is caused by the confinement of shoreline on the sea wave development.Sea waves tend to propagate normal to the shoreline because of the refraction effect.As a result,a shorter roughness length exists in the parallel direction to the shoreline.It can be further explained by the weakness in the momentum flux exchange between the air and sea based on the wave form drag theory when the wind flows parallel to the shoreline.