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US 12,601,616 B2Granted
Fluid flow simulation devices, fluid heating chambers, and associated methods
AssigneesPaul Marotta, Battelle Energy Alliance, LLC, University of Idaho
InventorsPiyush Sabharwall, Richard Christensen, Paul Marotta, Kristen Geddes, Alberto Cardenas-Melgar, Robin Roper
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Abstract
A fluid flow simulation device may include a heating chamber configured to heat a conductive fluid with one or more electrodes. The fluid flow simulation device may also include a heat exchanger positioned over the heating chamber and a downcomer coupled between an outlet of the heat exchanger and a bottom of the heating chamber.
Claims18
A fluid flow simulation device comprising:
- a heating chamber comprising one or more electrodes, a conductive fluid, and an orifice plate configured to control flow of the conductive fluid through the heating chamber;
- a heat exchanger positioned over the heating chamber;
- and
- a downcomer coupled between an outlet of the heat exchanger and a bottom of the heating chamber.
1 more element
A fluid heating chamber comprising:
- a salt water solution comprising a salt concentration of less than about 25 wt %;
- and
- one or more electrodes positioned within the fluid heating chamber, the one or more electrodes configured to induce a current through the salt water solution to heat the salt water solution and induce upward flow of the salt water solution through natural circulation.
A method of simulating fluid flow comprising:
- heating a conductive fluid in a heating chamber by generating a current through the conductive fluid with one or more electrodes;
- allowing the heated conductive fluid to rise through the heating chamber through natural circulation;
- removing heat from the conductive fluid with a heat exchanger positioned above the heating chamber;
- and
- allowing the cooled conductive fluid to travel downward in an outer fluid passage outside the heating chamber.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.