Sangam: A Confluence of Knowledge Streams

Design of Fouling-Resistant Coatings for Energy Systems: Theory and Proof of Principle at Realistic Conditions

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dc.contributor Short, Michael
dc.contributor Simpson, Robert
dc.contributor Slocum, Alexander
dc.contributor Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Nuclear Science and Engineering
dc.creator Carlson, Max
dc.date 2022-01-14T15:11:57Z
dc.date 2022-01-14T15:11:57Z
dc.date 2021-06
dc.date 2021-07-08T13:59:18.730Z
dc.date.accessioned 2023-03-01T07:21:39Z
dc.date.available 2023-03-01T07:21:39Z
dc.identifier https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/139446
dc.identifier.uri http://localhost:8080/xmlui/handle/CUHPOERS/275747
dc.description The buildup of corrosion deposits, known as fouling or CRUD in PWRs, seriously hinders large-scale energy production. From nuclear power plants to geothermal reservoirs, fouling increases system pressure drops, impedes heat transfer, and accelerates corrosion, leading to derating and early failure. Here we propose and demonstrate a design principle for foulant-agnostic thin film (sub-micrometer) coatings, based on minimizing van der Waals (vdW) forces between a material surface and any foulant immersed in a fluid. First-principles calculations of Hamaker constants are used to determine candidate coating materials. These materials are then tested in the first documented high temperature (315 C), high pressure (14 MPa), liquid cell atomic force microscope (HPAFM) capable of performing colloidal probe measurements at in-situ PWR pressure and temperature. The results are compared to flow loop tests, and the coating stability is tested in an irradiated flow loop with PWR spectrum. A set of promising coating materials is found, with the best candidates proven to reduce CRUD fouling by approximately an order of magnitude in a PWR-representative internally heated test flow loop.
dc.description Ph.D.
dc.format application/pdf
dc.publisher Massachusetts Institute of Technology
dc.rights In Copyright - Educational Use Permitted
dc.rights Copyright MIT
dc.rights http://rightsstatements.org/page/InC-EDU/1.0/
dc.title Design of Fouling-Resistant Coatings for Energy Systems: Theory and Proof of Principle at Realistic Conditions
dc.type Thesis


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