Nuclear Energy Conversion

Study on utilization of the limited energy resources to meet the environmental safety from the thermo-fluid point of view.

In order to achieve the economic, environment and safety energy system in the future, we are studying on the science and engineering of utilizing nuclear energies based on the fundamental understandings of physics of energy production and conversion. We focus on the thermal and fluid engineering regarding to effective and safe utilization of energy: especially, the establishment of multiphase flow science and engineering.

Academic Staff

Takehiko YOKOMINE

Takehiko YOKOMINEProfessor (Graduate School of Engineering)

Research Theme

Thermo-hydraulic related to Nuclear Fission/Fusion Reactor, MHD turbulence, Multiphase flow engineering, Erosion, Renewable Energy System

Contact Information

Katsura Campus C-cluster, C3-d2S04
TEL: +81-75-383-3922
FAX: +81-75-383-3922
E-mail: yokomine@* (Add "nucleng.kyoto-u.ac.jp" after @)

Emi NARITA

Junior Associate Professor (Graduate School of Engineering)narita.JPG

Research Theme

Turbulent transport analysis and modeling with numerical simulations toward performance predictions of fusion plasmas

Classes

Mathematics for Computation, Fundamentals of Magnetohydrodynamics

Contact Information

Katsura campus C-cluster C3d-Building d2S04
TEL: +81-75-383-3903
FAX: +81-75-383-3903
E-mail: narita.emi.5s@* (Add "kyoto-u.ac.jp" after @)

Research Topics

Direct numerical simulation study on multiphase flows

Development of numerical simulation procedure to solve various multiphase flow problems and boiling phenomena in pipes and enclosures (see Fig.1). Research on air-sea interaction due to wind driven turbulent shear flow concerning to the global warming problem: investigation of carbon dioxide absorption into the sea (see Fig.2). 

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Figure 1:Direct numerical simulation of sub-cool pool boiling in an enclosure

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Figure 2:Direct numerical simulation of air-sea interaction due to wind driven turbulent shear flow

Experimental study on multiphase flows

Study on boiling and convective phenomena of liquid metals under magnetic fields and two-phase flow phenomena in a nuclear rector: two-phase cross-flow through a simulated fuel rod bundle assembly (see Fig.3). Study on fundamental multiphase flow phenomena: formation of ring-typed bubble (see Fig.4).

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Figure 3:Gas-liquid two phase flow through tilted rod bundle

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Figure 4:Production of a ring-typed bubble

Study on micro-scale two-phase flow phenomena

Fundamental study on micro-bubble flows and interaction with turbulent flows. Application of micro bubble technology to the environmental problems. Investigate surface tension driven two-phase flows in micro-channels for application to the space technologies and so on.

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Figure 5:Fundamental study on two-phase flows in a micro-channel: (a) a film flow pattern and (b) a slug flow pattern in a pipe of 50µm.

Study on fusion plasmas using machine learning

Particle and heat transport in fusion plasmas is largely governed by turbulence. Neural network models are advantageous to understanding and predicting turbulent transport. Such models can analyze visualized turbulent perturbations and predict transport fluxes much faster than conventional models.

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Figure 6: Visualized turbulent perturbations in the wavenumber space, and temperature predictions using a machine learning-based turbulent transport model