To optimize the efficiency and safety of molten salt-based energy applications, accurate molten salt thermophysical property data are required. For molten fluorides, existing thermal conductivity results have large uncertainties and contradict the current theory by eliciting a positive temperature coefficient. Transient grating spectroscopy (TGS), a technique previously deemed reliable by the theoretical community, has been used to measure the thermal conductivity of fluorides (FLiNaK) for the first time. Results show a fairly flat but slightly increasing thermal conductivity as a function of temperature. The technique has been shown to not suffer from contributions from convection and radiation, an explanation used to discount the results of alternative experimental techniques. In addition to thermal conductivity, sound speed data as a function of temperature have also been obtained for the first time in FLiNaK. The use of accurate sound speed data in theoretical models of thermal conductivity provides better but not complete agreement with the results from TGS. The continued existence of a positive temperature coefficient highlights the need for new mechanistic proposals for why TGS, or current theoretical models, are unable to capture the correct temperature dependence for fluoride molten salt thermal conductivity.
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Applications engineering group. I assisted two main projects during my appointment, both related to the Lab's mission statement: "To solve national security challenges through scientific excellence." My first project, a thermal source transfer unit, involved skills such as mechanical design, heat transfer simulation, and design analysis. The goal was to create a container that could protect a heat source and regulate its temperature during transit. I generated several designs, performed heat transfer simulations, and chose a design for prototyping. The second project was a soil drying unit for use in post blast sample analysis. To ensure fast and accurate sample processing, agents in the field wanted a system that could process wet dirt and turn it into dry powder. We designed a system of commercially available parts, and we tested the systems to determine the best methods and processes.
Advances in additive manufacturing (AM) have enabled designers and engineers to demonstrate their ideas and build prototypes efficiently and conveniently. Schools, colleges, and universities have welcomed this technology into their classrooms. Richland College (RLC) of the Dallas County Community College District is a two-year college located in Dallas, Texas. It serves approximately 20,000 credit students. RLC worked in collaboration with Texas A&M University, located in College Station, Texas to develop and evaluate a remotely accessible 3D printing infrastructure. This paper describes a remotely accessible system consisting of a commercial 3D printer, work-flow processing, and remote viewing. Students can submit a job after a credential check. The STL file is sliced and uploaded to the 3D printer. Students can view the part being made via webcam and streaming via internet video-sharing providers. Results from a survey of two-year college students who used the system suggest they believe that the system is very relevant to their education and would like to see more tool and system like this made available. Students also commented positively on the system setup including the instructions on how to connect to the 3D printer, the ease-of-use of the remote access application software for connectivity to the 3D printer, and the real-time video of the part being made.
Motivation
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