The Hybrid Energy Systems Testing (HYTEST) Laboratory at the Idaho National Laboratory was established to develop and test hybrid energy systems with the principal objective of reducing dependence on imported fossil fuels. A central component of the HYTEST is the slurry bubble column reactor (SBCR) in which the gas-to-liquid reactions are performed to synthesize transportation fuels using the Fischer Tropsch (FT) process. These SBCRs operate in the churn-turbulent flow regime, which is characterized by complex hydrodynamics, coupled with reacting flow chemistry and heat transfer. Results Our team is developing a research tool to aid in understanding the physicochemical processes occurring in the SBCR. A robust methodology to couple reaction kinetics and mass transfer into a four-field model (consisting of the bulk liquid, small bubbles, large bubbles and solid catalyst particles) consisting of thirteen species, which are CO reactant, H 2 reactant, hydrocarbon product, and H 2 O product in small bubbles, large bubbles, and the bulk fluid plus catalyst is outlined. Mechanistic submodels for interfacial momentum transfer in the churn-turbulent flow regime are incorporated, along with bubble breakup/coalescence and two-phase turbulence submodels. The absorption and kinetic models, specifically changes in species concentrations, have been incorporated into the mass continuity equation. The reaction rate is based on the macrokinetic model for a cobalt catalyst developed by Yates and Satterfield. The model includes heat generation produced by the exothermic chemical reaction, as well as heat removal from a constant temperature heat exchanger. A property method approach is employed to incorporate vapor-liquid equilibrium (VLE) in a robust manner. Physical and thermodynamic properties as functions of changes in both pressure and temperature are obtained from VLE calculations performed external to the CMFD solver. The novelty of this approach is in its simplicity, as well as its accuracy over a specified temperature and pressure range.

A Web portal environment allows users to access data, view the results of qualification tests, and view graphs and charts of various data attributes. NDMAS also has methods for the management of the data output from very high temperature reactor simulation models and data generated from experiments designed to verify and validate the simulation codes. These simulation models represent the outcome of mathematical representations of very high temperature reactor components and systems. The Methods data management approaches described herein will handle data that arise from experiments, simulations, and external sources for the main purpose of facilitating parameter estimation and model verification and validation. for the Next Generation Nuclear Plant (NGNP), including the Methods component of NGNP data. Multiple means are available to access data stored in NDMAS.A model integration environment, named ModelCenter, is used to automate the storing of data from simulation model runs to the NDMAS repository. This approach does not adversely change the way computational scientists conduct their work. The method is to be used mainly to store the results of model runs that need to be preserved for auditing purposes or for display to the NDMAS Web portal. This interim report discusses the current development activities of NDMAS for Methods data qualification. a