LUCIANO ONDIR FREIRE

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  • Artigo IPEN-doc 28627
    Clean and safe nuclear power
    2021 - FREIRE, LUCIANO O.; ANDRADE, DELVONEI A. de
    New research developments suggest that nuclear reactors using fusion may enter the market sooner than imagined even for mobile applications, like merchant ship propulsion and remote power generation. This article aims at pointing such developments and how they could affect nuclear fusion. The method is enumerating the main nuclear reactors concepts, identifying new technological or theoretical developments, and analysing how new recombination could affect feasibility of nuclear fusion. New technologies or experimental results do not always work the way people imagine, being better or worse for intended effects or even bringing completely unforeseen effects. Results point the following designs could be successful, in descending order of potential: aneutronic nuclear reactions using lattice confinement, hybrid fission-lattice confinement fusion, aneutronic nuclear reactions using inertial along magnetic confinement, and fission reactions.
  • Resumo IPEN-doc 28578
    Some facts about nuclear forces and evidence of their range being longer than people believe
    2021 - FREIRE, LUCIANO O.; ANDRADE, DELVONEI A. de
    Nuclear forces are believed to have ranges around 2 fermi and beyond that range, only electrostatic force is relevant. Before trying to make theories about the phenomena of nuclear reactions observed in solids, it is important to revise critically the existing experimental literature and nuclear theory to check if current models are coherent and if they could explain the observed phenomena. The first step is to check the current nuclear models, the second is to analyse the neutron cross-section data, the third is to discuss coherence between empirical data and models, the fourth is to identify the order of magnitude of nuclear forces range, the fifth is to revise the full height of Coulomb barrier. It was found one isotope (Gadolinium-157) that can attract a thermal neutron at least at 2781 fermi and repulses neutrons at 179 Fermi. It was also found that the plane projection of volumes where neutrons are directly captured is distinct of the projection of the volume where neutrons are scattered for most isotopes. But Kryptonium, Ruthenium, Xenonium, Iridium, and Mercury elements seem having their scattering volumes covered by the absorption volumes, or not having a scattering volume at all. Ca-44, Ca-48, Ni-64, Se-74, Te-123, Dy-162, Hf-177 and W-186 isotopes seem having a partial screening of their scattering volume by the absorption volume. Resonance capture volumes seem to be independent of direct capture volumes and have interface with scattering volume. Three facts suggest absorption volumes are consequence of nucleons arrangement, assuming an FCC nucleus model. The first is that a single additional neutron may change the order of magnitude of absorption radius (like He-3 to He-4). Second, excited states also change absorption cross-sections, like Na-23 whose first excited state increases absorption cross-section and Cl-37 whose first excited state decreases absorption cross-section. Third, neutron capture resonance depends on existence of an excited state of the compound nucleus (target nucleus plus the neutron) with energy larger than this neutron binding energy. In other words, to have a resonance, the target nucleus needs to have two places available for a neutron, and the energetic distance between them needs to be larger than a minimum (the very neutron binding energy). Compared to Coulomb forces, the nuclear forces attracting neutrons are weak, about 6 orders of magnitude smaller than electrostatic repulsion at mean thermal neutron capture radius.
  • Resumo IPEN-doc 28577
    A survey on the evolution of yearly works on Pd-D, Ti-D and Ni-H systems within cold fusion field
    2021 - FREIRE, LUCIANO O.; ANDRADE, DELVONEI A. de
    More than 30 years have been passed since Stanley and Pons press conference announcing the discovery of “Cold Fusion”. This work aims at presenting a general view of the evolution of experimental works in the various sub-fields, like Pd-D, Ti-D, Ni-H systems. For each subfield, this work presents the yearly number of successful and unsuccessful works published in conferences or journals. For Pd-D systems, since 1989, the number of positive results (finding some nuclear reactions) is superior to negative results but there is a trend of reduction of yearly works. Ti-D systems follow the same tendency. Ni-H systems, on the other hand, present a rising tendency besides having a higher ratio of successful/unsuccessful experiments. Perhaps the smaller cost of materials and easier replication is being decisive for new research groups starting in the field, besides enterprises starting advertisement of products based on the Ni-H system.
  • Resumo IPEN-doc 28576
    A hypothesis of kinetics and dynamic control of nuclear reactions in solids
    2021 - FREIRE, LUCIANO O.; ANDRADE, DELVONEI A. de
    Several authors suggested that background noise could influence nuclear reactions in solids, resulting in neutrons or excess heat. Literature shows that repeatability is improving, but the control over the intensity remains out of reach. This work aims at identifying possible causes for intensity variations and proposing solutions to improve controllability. The first step is to search in literature the characteristics of nuclear reactions in solids: input, output, controlling factors and enabling means. The second step is, from solid experimental facts, draw solid conclusions. The third step is developing some assumptions about the phenomenon. For each controlling factor, verify the feasibility of implementation in a heat exchanger with high surface over volume ratio. Finally, present some alternatives of architectures to improve reactions intensity control. A solid conclusion is hot spots come from aneutronic nuclear chain reactions, meaning each energetic charged particle causes the appearance of more than one new charged particle (effective multiplication factor keff>1). Another conclusion is background neutron radiation starts chain reactions and it causes excess heat intensity variations. An assumption is a local keff>1 causes micro explosions terminating the localized reactions because heat propagates faster than the particle population, resulting in low average keff. Therefore, nanoparticles or working temperatures near melting point reduce local keff allowing slow enhancement of particle population up to a level proportional to the background neutrons. A suggestion is to shield the reactors using moderators with neutron absorbers to avoid undesirable power excursions and add a voltage-controlled neutron source to control the excess heat because of the penetrating nature of neutron radiation. Magnetic or electric fields could also help the enhancement of excess heat.
  • Artigo IPEN-doc 28510
    Preliminary survey on cold fusion
    2021 - FREIRE, LUCIANO O.; ANDRADE, DELVONEI A. de
    Since 1989 the announcement of “cold fusion” by Stanley Pons and Martin Fleishmann, “cold fusion” field has been surrounded by controversy. After three decades, this field is alive and has produced thousands of publications, most in dedicated periodic and conferences. This work aims at checking whether “cold fusion” fits in pathological science traits. For each type of experiment and year, this work counted the distinct research groups results (success or failure). Experimental results from many research groups suggest that nuclear reactions in solids are more complex than fusion (it is not only fusion) and that they need energy triggers like background radiation, meaning chemical configurations alone do not seem to generate nuclear reactions. Some types of experiments present rising trends (the field does not fit in pathological science model) and have potential to bring disruptive technologies. If confirmed, experimental results will require revisions of accepted nuclear models.
  • Artigo IPEN-doc 28252
    On the commercial feasibility of decommissioning a nuclear power plant ship
    2021 - S. JUNIOR, ADALBERTO; FREIRE, LUCIANO O.; ANDRADE, DELVONEI A. de
  • Artigo IPEN-doc 28224
  • Artigo IPEN-doc 28167
    Novel technological developments with impacts on perspectives for mobile nuclear power plants
    2021 - FREIRE, LUCIANO O.; ANDRADE, DELVONEI A. de
    New research developments suggest that nuclear reactors using fusion may enter the market sooner than imagined even for mobile applications, like merchant ship propulsion and remote power generation. This article aims at pointing such developments and how they could affect nuclear fusion. The method is enumerating the main nuclear reactors concepts, identifying new technological or theoretical developments useful to nuclear field, and analysing how new recombination could affect feasibility of nuclear fusion. New technologies or experimental results do not always work the way people imagine, being better or worse for intended effects or even bringing completely unforeseen effects. Results point the following designs could be successful, in descending order of potential: aneutronic nuclear reactions using lattice confinement, aneutronic nuclear reactions using inertial along magnetic confinement, hybrid fission-lattice confinement fusion, and fission reactions.
  • Artigo IPEN-doc 28138
    Novel aspects of constructal law
    2021 - FREIRE, LUCIANO O.; ANDRADE, DELVONEI A. de
    Constructal law explains the sense of evolution (morphing to get access to flows) of finite size systems, but paradoxes do exist as not all vegetables have a tree form. Also, nature does not improve all animals for displacement. This work aims at creating a model to explain those paradoxes about constructal law. It adopted the system engineering technique of segregation between functions (abstract goals) and solutions (physical entities). Further, this work introduced the assumptions of flow under external threats and imperfect channels (subject to leakages and suboptimal form). Results showed that there are always elements doing four functions in all types of channels: to reduce entropy, to protect channel, to retain integrity and to drive flow. Although the four functions are always present, natural systems typically privilege one function over others, depending on environmental demands. As a solution to improve flows, animal brains also fit in the model of four functions. Human mind seems to have groups of instincts associated with each of the four channel design functions, leading to four behavior phenotypes and four motivations (prominence, inclusiveness, negativity prevention and tradition). Finally, this model (channels need to meet four goals) unified physics and animal psychology and extended applications of Constructal law to the fields of systems engineering methods, management, and psychological science.
  • Artigo IPEN-doc 27928
    Potential advantages of molten salt reactor for merchant ship propulsion
    2021 - FREITAS NETO, LUIZ G. de; FREIRE, LUCIANO O.; SANTOS, ADIMIR dos; ANDRADE, DELVONEI A. de
    Operating costs of merchant ships, related to fuel costs, has led the naval industry to search alternatives to the current technologies of propulsion power. A possibility is to employ nuclear reactors like the Russian KLT-40S, which is a pressurized water reactor (PWR) and has experience on civilian surface vessels. However, space and weight are critical factors in a nuclear propulsion project, in addition to operational safety and costs. This work aims at comparing molten salt reactors (MSR) with PWR for merchant ship propulsion. The present study develops a qualitative analysis on weight, volume, overnight costs, fuel costs and nuclear safety. This work compares the architecture and operational conditions of these two types of reactors. The result is that MSR may produce lower amounts of high-activity nuclear tailings and, if it adopts the U233-thorium cycle, it may have lower risks of proliferating nuclear weapons. Besides proliferation issues, this 4th generation reactor may have lower weight, occupy less space, and achieve the same levels of safety with less investment. Thus, molten salt regenerative reactors using the U233-thorium cycle are potential candidates for use in ship propulsion.