Feasibility of TPMS Lattices as a Nuclear Fuel Structure
Disciplines
Computer-Aided Engineering and Design | Energy Systems | Heat Transfer, Combustion | Nuclear Engineering
Abstract (300 words maximum)
Nuclear reactors are among the most reliable, safe, and efficient sources of power generation. While nuclear fuel possesses an exceptionally high energy density, the rate of heat removal from the fuel remains a limiting factor in overall power output. In conventional reactor designs, nuclear fuel is housed in cylindrical rods with low surface-area-to-volume ratios, which constrain thermal transfer and, consequently, energy production. Enhancing the geometry of the fuel to increase surface area relative to volume can significantly improve heat transfer, enabling higher power output without increasing the amount of fuel. Triply Periodic Minimal Surface (TPMS) lattice structures such as Diamond and Gyroid geometries offer a promising alternative, having demonstrated superior thermal performance in heat exchanger applications. This study evaluates the theoretical viability of TPMS based nuclear fuel forms by performing thermal and fluid dynamics analyses on CAD models of Diamond and Gyroid lattice geometries. These analyses serve as a foundational step toward the development and eventual prototyping of advanced nuclear fuel configurations aimed at optimizing reactor performance.
Academic department under which the project should be listed
SPCEET - Engineering Technology
Primary Investigator (PI) Name
Aaron Adams
Feasibility of TPMS Lattices as a Nuclear Fuel Structure
Nuclear reactors are among the most reliable, safe, and efficient sources of power generation. While nuclear fuel possesses an exceptionally high energy density, the rate of heat removal from the fuel remains a limiting factor in overall power output. In conventional reactor designs, nuclear fuel is housed in cylindrical rods with low surface-area-to-volume ratios, which constrain thermal transfer and, consequently, energy production. Enhancing the geometry of the fuel to increase surface area relative to volume can significantly improve heat transfer, enabling higher power output without increasing the amount of fuel. Triply Periodic Minimal Surface (TPMS) lattice structures such as Diamond and Gyroid geometries offer a promising alternative, having demonstrated superior thermal performance in heat exchanger applications. This study evaluates the theoretical viability of TPMS based nuclear fuel forms by performing thermal and fluid dynamics analyses on CAD models of Diamond and Gyroid lattice geometries. These analyses serve as a foundational step toward the development and eventual prototyping of advanced nuclear fuel configurations aimed at optimizing reactor performance.