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Book Design and Transient Analysis of Passive Safety Cooling Systems for Advanced Nuclear Reactors

Download or read book Design and Transient Analysis of Passive Safety Cooling Systems for Advanced Nuclear Reactors written by Cristhian Galvez and published by . This book was released on 2011 with total page 508 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Pebble Bed Advanced High Temperature Reactor (PB-AHTR) is a pebble fueled, liquid salt cooled, high temperature nuclear reactor design that can be used for electricity generation or other applications requiring the availability of heat at elevated temperatures. A stage in the design evolution of this plant requires the analysis of the plant during a variety of potential transients to understand the primary and safety cooling system response. This study focuses on the performance of the passive safety cooling system with a dual purpose, to assess the capacity to maintain the core at safe temperatures and to assist the design process of this system to achieve this objective. The analysis requires the use of complex computational tools for simulation and verification using analytical solutions and comparisons with experimental data. This investigation builds upon previous detailed design work for the PB-AHTR components, including the core, reactivity control mechanisms and the intermediate heat exchanger, developed in 2008. In addition the study of this reference plant design employs a wealth of auxiliary information including thermal-hydraulic physical phenomena correlations for multiple geometries and thermophysical properties for the constituents of the plant. Finally, the set of performance requirements and limitations imposed from physical constrains and safety considerations provide with a criteria and metrics for acceptability of the design. The passive safety cooling system concept is turned into a detailed design as a result from this study. A methodology for the design of air-cooled passive safety systems was developed and a transient analysis of the plant, evaluating a scrammed loss of forced cooling event was performed. Furthermore, a design optimization study of the passive safety system and an approach for the validation and verification of the analysis is presented. This study demonstrates that the resulting point design responds properly to the transient event and maintains the core and reactor components at acceptable temperatures within allowable safety margins. It is also demonstrated that the transition from steady full-power, forced-cooling mode to steady decay-heat, natural-circulation mode is stable, predictable and well characterized.

Book Experimental Validation of Passive Safety System Models

Download or read book Experimental Validation of Passive Safety System Models written by Nicolas Zweibaum and published by . This book was released on 2015 with total page 231 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The development of advanced nuclear reactor technology requires understanding of complex, integrated systems that exhibit novel phenomenology under normal and accident conditions. The advent of passive safety systems and enhanced modular construction methods requires the development and use of new frameworks to predict the behavior of advanced nuclear reactors, both from a safety standpoint and from an environmental impact perspective. This dissertation introduces such frameworks for scaling of integral effects tests for natural circulation in fluoride-salt-cooled, high-temperature reactors (FHRs) to validate evaluation models (EMs) for system behavior; subsequent reliability assessment of passive, natural- circulation-driven decay heat removal systems, using these validated models; evaluation of life cycle carbon dioxide emissions as a key environmental impact metric; and recommendations for further work to apply these frameworks in the development and optimization of advanced nuclear reactor designs. In this study, the developed frameworks are applied to the analysis of the Mark 1 pebble-bed FHR (Mk1 PB-FHR) under current investigation at the University of California, Berkeley (UCB). The capability to validate integral transient response models is a key issue for licensing new reactor designs. This dissertation presents the scaling strategy, design and fabrication aspects, and startup testing results from the Compact Integral Effects Test (CIET) facility at UCB, which reproduces the thermal hydraulic response of an FHR under forced and natural circulation operation. CIET provides validation data to confirm the performance of the direct reactor auxiliary cooling system (DRACS) in an FHR, used for natural-circulation-driven decay heat removal, under a set of reference licensing basis events, as predicted by best-estimate codes such as RELAP5-3D. CIET uses a simulant fluid, Dowtherm A oil, which at relatively low temperatures (50-120°C) matches the Prandtl, Reynolds, Froude and Grashof numbers of the major liquid salts simultaneously, at approximately 50% geometric scale and heater power under 2% of prototypical conditions. The studies reported here include isothermal pressure drop tests performed during startup testing of CIET, with extensive pressure data collection to determine friction losses in the system, as well as subsequent heated tests, from parasitic heat loss tests to more complex feedback control tests and natural circulation experiments. For initial code validation, coupled steady-state single-phase natural circulation loops and simple forced cooling transients were conducted in CIET. For various heat input levels and temperature boundary conditions, fluid mass flow rates and temperatures were compared between RELAP5- 3D results, analytical solutions when available, and experimental data. This study shows that RELAP5-3D provides excellent predictions of steady-state natural circulation and simple transient forced cooling in CIET. The code predicts natural circulation mass flow rates within 8%, and steady-state and transient fluid temperatures, under both natural and forced circulation, within 2°C of experimental data, suggesting that RELAP5-3D is a good EM to use to design and license FHRs. A key element in design and licensing of new reactor technology lies in the analysis of the plant response to a variety of potential transients. When applicable, this involves understanding of passive safety system behavior. This dissertation develops a framework to assess reliability and propose design optimization and risk mitigation strategies associated with passive decay heat removal systems, applied to the Mk1 PB-FHR DRACS. This investigation builds upon previous detailed design work for Mk1 components and the use of RELAP5-3D models validated for FHR natural circulation phenomenology. For risk assessment, reliability of the point design of the passive safety system for the Mk1 PB-FHR, which depends on the ability of various structures to fulfill their safety functions, is studied. Whereas traditional probabilistic risk assessment (PRA) methods are based on event and fault trees for components of the system that perform in a binary way - operating or not operating -, this study is mostly based on probability distributions of heat load compared to the capacity of the system to remove heat, as recommended by the reliability methods for passive safety functions (RMPS) that are used here. To reduce computational time, the use of response surfaces to describe the system in a simplified manner, in the context of RMPS, is also demonstrated. The design optimization and risk mitigation part proposes a framework to study the elements of the design of the reactor, and more specifically its passive safety cooling system, which can contribute to enhanced reliability of heat removal under accident conditions. Risk mitigation measures based on design, startup testing, in-service inspection and online monitoring are proposed to narrow probability distributions of key parameters of the system and increase reliability and safety. Another major aspect in the development of novel energy systems is the assessment of their impacts on the environment compared to current technologies. While most existing life cycle assessment (LCA) studies have been applied to conventional nuclear power plants, this dissertation proposes a framework to extend such studies to advanced reactor designs, using the example of the Mk1 PB-FHR. The Mk1 uses a nuclear air-Brayton combined cycle designed to produce 100 MWe of base-load electricity when operated with only nuclear heat, and 242 MWe using natural gas co-firing for peaking power. The Mk1 design provides a basis for quantities and costs of major classes of materials involved in building the reactor and fabricating fuel, and operation parameters. Existing data and economic input-output LCA models are used to calculate greenhouse gas emissions per kWh of electricity produced over the life cycle of the reactor. Baseline life cycle emissions from the Mk1 PB-FHR in base-load configuration are 26% lower than average Generation II light water reactors in the U.S., 98% lower than average U.S. coal plants and 96% lower than average U.S. natural gas combined cycle plants using the same turbine technology. In peaking configuration, due to its nuclear component and higher thermal efficiency, the Mk1 plant only produces 32% of the emissions of average U.S. gas turbine simple cycle peaking plants. One key contribution to life cycle emissions results from the amount and type of concrete used for reactor construction. This is an incentive to develop innovative construction methods using optimized steel-concrete composite wall modules and new concrete mixes to reduce life cycle emissions from the Mk1 and other advanced reactor designs.

Book Passive Safety Systems and Natural Circulation in Water Cooled Nuclear Power Plants

Download or read book Passive Safety Systems and Natural Circulation in Water Cooled Nuclear Power Plants written by and published by . This book was released on 2009 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Since the mid-1980s there has been much discussion of the advantages of passive safety systems in advanced nuclear power plants (NPPs). It has been recognized that the application of passive safety systems can contribute to simplification and potentially improve economics of new NPP designs. However, this implies careful design and analysis methods to assure that these systems perform their intended functions. This publication draws on the studies of an IAEA coordinated research project on the topic and reports the findings of the latest research activities. It describes passive safety systems in a wide range of advanced water-cooled nuclear power plant designs, defines the thermal hydraulic phenomena associated with natural circulation phenomena and cross-links these phenomena with the passive safety systems.

Book Risk and Safety Analysis of Nuclear Systems

Download or read book Risk and Safety Analysis of Nuclear Systems written by John C. Lee and published by John Wiley & Sons. This book was released on 2012-01-12 with total page 504 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The book has been developed in conjunction with NERS 462, a course offered every year to seniors and graduate students in the University of Michigan NERS program. The first half of the book covers the principles of risk analysis, the techniques used to develop and update a reliability data base, the reliability of multi-component systems, Markov methods used to analyze the unavailability of systems with repairs, fault trees and event trees used in probabilistic risk assessments (PRAs), and failure modes of systems. All of this material is general enough that it could be used in non-nuclear applications, although there is an emphasis placed on the analysis of nuclear systems. The second half of the book covers the safety analysis of nuclear energy systems, an analysis of major accidents and incidents that occurred in commercial nuclear plants, applications of PRA techniques to the safety analysis of nuclear power plants (focusing on a major PRA study for five nuclear power plants), practical PRA examples, and emerging techniques in the structure of dynamic event trees and fault trees that can provide a more realistic representation of complex sequences of events. The book concludes with a discussion on passive safety features of advanced nuclear energy systems under development and approaches taken for risk-informed regulations for nuclear plants.

Book Providing the Basis for Innovative Improvements in Advanced LWR Reactor Passive Safety Systems Design

Download or read book Providing the Basis for Innovative Improvements in Advanced LWR Reactor Passive Safety Systems Design written by and published by . This book was released on 2007 with total page pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This project characterizes typical two-phase stratified flow conditions in advanced water reactor horizontal pipe sections, following activation of passive cooling systems. It provides (1) a means to educate nuclear engineering students regarding the importance of two-phase stratified flow in passive cooling systems to the safety of advanced reactor systems and (2) describes the experimental apparatus and process to measure key parameters essential to consider when designing passive emergency core cooling flow paths that may encounter this flow regime. Based on data collected, the state of analysis capabilities can be determined regarding stratified flow in advanced reactor systems and the best paths forward can be identified to ensure that the nuclear industry can properly characterize two-phase stratified flow in passive emergency core cooling systems.

Book Nuclear Reactor Cooling Systems

Download or read book Nuclear Reactor Cooling Systems written by Charles Nehme and published by Charles Nehme. This book was released on with total page 73 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Nuclear reactor cooling systems are the backbone of nuclear power plants, playing a critical role in managing the immense heat generated by nuclear fission reactions and ensuring the safe operation of these facilities. These intricate systems are designed to effectively remove heat from the reactor core, transfer it to a secondary loop, and ultimately convert it into electricity. This book delves into the intricacies of nuclear reactor cooling systems, providing a comprehensive overview of their design, operation, and safety considerations. It explores the fundamental principles of heat transfer, the selection of suitable coolants, and the intricate flow patterns within the reactor core. Readers will gain a deep understanding of the different types of cooling systems, including pressurized water reactors (PWRs), boiling water reactors (BWRs), and gas-cooled reactors (GCRs). They will also gain insights into the advanced cooling concepts being explored for future nuclear power plants. Alongside these technical aspects, the book highlights the critical importance of safety in nuclear reactor cooling systems. Emergency cooling systems are meticulously designed to prevent and mitigate potential accidents, ensuring the protection of public health and the environment. This book is intended for a broad audience, including engineering students, professionals working in the nuclear industry, and those seeking a deeper understanding of nuclear power generation. It provides a valuable resource for anyone interested in learning about the intricate workings of nuclear reactor cooling systems and their role in harnessing nuclear energy responsibly.

Book Thermal Hydraulics of Water Cooled Nuclear Reactors

Download or read book Thermal Hydraulics of Water Cooled Nuclear Reactors written by Francesco D'Auria and published by Woodhead Publishing. This book was released on 2017-05-18 with total page 1200 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Thermal Hydraulics of Water-Cooled Nuclear Reactors reviews flow and heat transfer phenomena in nuclear systems and examines the critical contribution of this analysis to nuclear technology development. With a strong focus on system thermal hydraulics (SYS TH), the book provides a detailed, yet approachable, presentation of current approaches to reactor thermal hydraulic analysis, also considering the importance of this discipline for the design and operation of safe and efficient water-cooled and moderated reactors. Part One presents the background to nuclear thermal hydraulics, starting with a historical perspective, defining key terms, and considering thermal hydraulics requirements in nuclear technology. Part Two addresses the principles of thermodynamics and relevant target phenomena in nuclear systems. Next, the book focuses on nuclear thermal hydraulics modeling, covering the key areas of heat transfer and pressure drops, then moving on to an introduction to SYS TH and computational fluid dynamics codes. The final part of the book reviews the application of thermal hydraulics in nuclear technology, with chapters on V&V and uncertainty in SYS TH codes, the BEPU approach, and applications to new reactor design, plant lifetime extension, and accident analysis. This book is a valuable resource for academics, graduate students, and professionals studying the thermal hydraulic analysis of nuclear power plants and using SYS TH to demonstrate their safety and acceptability. Contains a systematic and comprehensive review of current approaches to the thermal-hydraulic analysis of water-cooled and moderated nuclear reactors Clearly presents the relationship between system level (top-down analysis) and component level phenomenology (bottom-up analysis) Provides a strong focus on nuclear system thermal hydraulic (SYS TH) codes Presents detailed coverage of the applications of thermal-hydraulics to demonstrate the safety and acceptability of nuclear power plants

Book Nuclear Power

    Book Details:
  • Author : National Research Council
  • Publisher : National Academies Press
  • Release : 1992-02-01
  • ISBN : 0309043956
  • Pages : 234 pages

Download or read book Nuclear Power written by National Research Council and published by National Academies Press. This book was released on 1992-02-01 with total page 234 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The construction of nuclear power plants in the United States is stopping, as regulators, reactor manufacturers, and operators sort out a host of technical and institutional problems. This volume summarizes the status of nuclear power, analyzes the obstacles to resumption of construction of nuclear plants, and describes and evaluates the technological alternatives for safer, more economical reactors. Topics covered include: Institutional issues-including regulatory practices at the federal and state levels, the growing trends toward greater competition in the generation of electricity, and nuclear and nonnuclear generation options. Critical evaluation of advanced reactors-covering attributes such as cost, construction time, safety, development status, and fuel cycles. Finally, three alternative federal research and development programs are presented.

Book Proceedings of the 23rd Pacific Basin Nuclear Conference  Volume 1

Download or read book Proceedings of the 23rd Pacific Basin Nuclear Conference Volume 1 written by Chengmin Liu and published by Springer Nature. This book was released on 2023-04-12 with total page 1179 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This is the first in a series of three volumes of proceedings of the 23rd Pacific Basin Nuclear Conference (PBNC 2022) which was held by Chinese Nuclear Society. As one in the most important and influential conference series of nuclear science and technology, the 23rd PBNC was held in Beijing and Chengdu, China in 2022 with the theme “Nuclear Innovation for Zero-carbon Future”. For taking solid steps toward the goals of achieving peak carbon emissions and carbon neutrality, future-oriented nuclear energy should be developed in an innovative way for meeting global energy demands and coordinating the deployment mechanism. It brought together outstanding nuclear scientists and technical experts, senior industry executives, senior government officials and international energy organization leaders from all across the world. The proceedings highlight the latest scientific, technological and industrial advances in Nuclear Safety and Security, Operations and Maintenance, New Builds, Waste Management, Spent Fuel, Decommissioning, Supply Capability and Quality Management, Fuel Cycles, Digital Reactor and New Technology, Innovative Reactors and New Applications, Irradiation Effects, Public Acceptance and Education, Economics, Medical and Biological Applications, and also the student program that intends to raise students’ awareness in fully engaging in this career and keep them updated on the current situation and future trends. These proceedings are not only a good summary of the new developments in the field, but also a useful guideline for the researchers, engineers and graduate students. This is an open access book.

Book Fast Spectrum Reactors

Download or read book Fast Spectrum Reactors written by Alan E. Waltar and published by Springer Science & Business Media. This book was released on 2011-09-28 with total page 717 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book is a complete update of the classic 1981 FAST BREEDER REACTORS textbook authored by Alan E. Waltar and Albert B. Reynolds, which , along with the Russian translation, served as a major reference book for fast reactors systems. Major updates include transmutation physics (a key technology to substantially ameliorate issues associated with the storage of high-level nuclear waste ), advances in fuels and materials technology (including metal fuels and cladding materials capable of high-temperature and high burnup), and new approaches to reactor safety (including passive safety technology), New chapters on gas-cooled and lead-cooled fast spectrum reactors are also included. Key international experts contributing to the text include Chaim Braun, (Stanford University) Ronald Omberg, (Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Massimo Salvatores (CEA, France), Baldev Raj, (Indira Gandhi Center for Atomic Research, India) , John Sackett (Argonne National Laboratory), Kevan Weaver, (TerraPower Corporation) ,James Seinicki(Argonne National Laboratory). Russell Stachowski (General Electric), Toshikazu Takeda (University of Fukui, Japan), and Yoshitaka Chikazawa (Japan Atomic Energy Agency).

Book Design of the Reactor Coolant System and Associated Systems for Nuclear Power Plants

Download or read book Design of the Reactor Coolant System and Associated Systems for Nuclear Power Plants written by IAEA and published by International Atomic Energy Agency. This book was released on 2020-03-03 with total page 117 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This Safety Guide provides recommendations on how to meet the requirements established in IAEA Safety Standards Series No. SSR-2/1 (Rev. 1) in relation to the reactor coolant system and associated systems for nuclear power plants. It is a revision of IAEA Safety Standards Series No. NS-G-1.9, which it supersedes. The publication takes into account developments, experience and practices in the design of nuclear power plants throughout their lifetime. It references and considers other IAEA safety standards that are relevant and related to the design of the reactor coolant system and associated systems for nuclear power plants. Recommendations to achieve the required reliability of the capabilities designed to transfer residual heat to the ultimate heat sink in the different plant states are also included. As those systems are dependent on specific reactor technologies, more appropriate recommendations have been developed respectively for pressurized light water reactors, boiling water reactors and pressurized heavy water reactors.

Book Parallel Computational Fluid Dynamics 2008

Download or read book Parallel Computational Fluid Dynamics 2008 written by Damien Tromeur-Dervout and published by Springer Science & Business Media. This book was released on 2010-09-21 with total page 428 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book collects the proceedings of the Parallel Computational Fluid Dynamics 2008 conference held in Lyon, France. Contributed papers by over 40 researchers representing the state of the art in parallel CFD and architecture from Asia, Europe, and North America examine major developments in (1) block-structured grid and boundary methods to simulate flows over moving bodies, (2) specific methods for optimization in Aerodynamics Design, (3) innovative parallel algorithms and numerical solvers, such as scalable algebraic multilevel preconditioners and the acceleration of iterative solutions, (4) software frameworks and component architectures for parallelism, (5) large scale computing and parallel efficiencies in the industrial context, (6) lattice Boltzmann and SPH methods, and (7) applications in the environment, biofluids, and nuclear engineering.

Book Single phase  Two phase and Supercritical Natural Circulation Systems

Download or read book Single phase Two phase and Supercritical Natural Circulation Systems written by Pallippattu Krishnan Vijayan and published by Woodhead Publishing. This book was released on 2019-06-19 with total page 650 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Single-Phase, Two-Phase and Supercritical Natural Circulation Systems provides readers with a deep understanding of natural circulation systems. This book equips the reader with an understanding on how to detect unstable loops to ensure plant safety and reliability, calculate heat transport capabilities, and design effective natural circulation loops, stability maps and parallel channel systems. Each chapter begins with an introduction to the circulation system before discussing each element in detail and analyzing its effect on the performance of the system. The book also presents thermosyphon heat transport devices in nuclear and other industrial plants, a common information need for students and researchers alike. This book is invaluable for engineers, designers, operators and consultants in nuclear, mechanical, electrical and chemical disciplines. Presents single-phase, two-phase and supercritical natural circulation systems together in one resource to fill an existing knowledge gap Guides the reader through relevant processes, such as designing, analyzing and generating stability maps and natural circulation loops, calculating heat transport capabilities, and maintaining natural circulation system operations Includes global case studies and examples to increase understanding, along with important IAEA standards and procedures

Book Advanced Nuclear Energy Systems Toward Zero Release of Radioactive Wastes

Download or read book Advanced Nuclear Energy Systems Toward Zero Release of Radioactive Wastes written by M. Saito and published by Elsevier. This book was released on 2002-11-11 with total page 448 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This volume is a collection of the papers presented at the International Seminar on Advanced Nuclear Energy Systems toward Zero Release of Radioactive Wastes, which was held in Japan in November 2000. Scientists and engineers working in academia, research organizations and industry came together to discuss the role and contributions of nuclear energy to the environmental issues in the new millennium. It provided a forum for open discussions about the pursuit of solutions for the reduction of nuclear wastes based on the accelerator and fusion technologies, in addition to the advanced fission technology to harmonize the nuclear energy systems with the global environment. It also promoted future international collaboration in the following research fields: the role of nuclear energy in the new millennium; waste management; transmutation of minor actinides and fission products; advanced fission systems, accelerator driven systems, fusion systems, nuclear database, and advanced nuclear fuel cycles for transmutation of wastes. Published originally as a special issue (volume 40/3-4) of the international journal Progress in Nuclear Energy.

Book Design of Complex Systems to Achieve Passive Safety

Download or read book Design of Complex Systems to Achieve Passive Safety written by Raluca Olga Scarlat and published by . This book was released on 2012 with total page 352 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This dissertation treats system design, modeling of transient system response, and characterization of individual phenomena and demonstrates a framework for integration of these three activities early in the design process of a complex engineered system. A system analysis framework for prioritization of experiments, modeling, and development of detailed design is proposed. Two fundamental topics in thermal-hydraulics are discussed, which illustrate the integration of modeling and experimentation with nuclear reactor design and safety analysis: thermal-hydraulic modeling of heat generating pebble bed cores, and scaled experiments for natural circulation heat removal with Boussinesq liquids. The case studies used in this dissertation are derived from the design and safety analysis of a pebble bed fluoride salt cooled high temperature nuclear reactor (PB-FHR), currently under development in the United States at the university and national laboratories level. In the context of the phenomena identification and ranking table (PIRT) methodology, new tools and approaches are proposed and demonstrated here, which are specifically relevant to technology in the early stages of development, and to analysis of passive safety features. A system decomposition approach is proposed. Definition of system functional requirements complements identification and compilation of the current knowledge base for the behavior of the system. Two new graphical tools are developed for ranking of phenomena importance: a phenomena ranking map, and a phenomena identification and ranking matrix (PIRM). The functional requirements established through this methodology were used for the design and optimization of the reactor core, and for the transient analysis and design of the passive natural circulation driven decay heat removal system for the PB-FHR. A numerical modeling approach for heat-generating porous media, with multi-dimensional fluid flow is presented. The application of this modeling approach to the PB-FHR annular pebble bed core cooled by fluoride salt mixtures generated a model that is called Pod. Pod was used to show the resilience of the PB-FHR core to generation of hot spots or cold spots, due to the effect of buoyancy on the flow and temperature distribution in the packed bed. Pod was used to investigate the PB-FHR response to ATWS transients. Based on the functional requirements for the core, Pod was used to generate an optimized design of the flow distribution in the core. An analysis of natural circulation loops cooled by single-phase Boussinesq fluids is presented here, in the context of reactor design that relies on natural circulation decay heat removal, and design of scaled experiments. The scaling arguments are established for a transient natural circulation loop, for loops that have long fluid residence time, and negligible contribution of fluid inertia to the momentum equation. The design of integral effects tests for the loss of forced circulation (LOFC) for PB-FHR is discussed. The special case of natural circulation decay heat removal from a pebble bed reactor was analyzed. A way to define the Reynolds number in a multi-dimensional pebble bed was identified. The scaling methodology for replicating pebble bed friction losses using an electrically resistance heated annular pipe and a needle valve was developed. The thermophysical properties of liquid fluoride salts lead to design of systems with low flow velocities, and hence long fluid residence times. A comparison among liquid coolants for the performance of steady state natural circulation heat removal from a pebble bed was performed. Transient natural circulation experimental data with simulant fluids for fluoride salts is given here. The low flow velocity and the relatively high viscosity of the fluoride salts lead to low Reynolds number flows, and a low Reynolds number in conjunction with a sufficiently high coefficient of thermal expansion makes the system susceptible to local buoyancy effects Experiments indicate that slow exchange of stagnant fluid in static legs can play a significant role in the transient response of natural circulation loops. The effect of non-linear temperature profiles on the hot or cold legs or other segments of the flow loop, which may develop during transient scenarios, should be considered when modeling the performance of natural circulation loops. The data provided here can be used for validation of the application of thermal-hydraulic systems codes to the modeling of heat removal by natural circulation with liquid fluoride salts and its simulant fluids.