Located at the Department of Energy at the Bovisa campus of Politecnico di Milano, the Dynamo laboratory is an advanced research centre studying the dynamics of fluids in systems with natural and forced circulation. It houses two main experimental setups: Dynasty and eDynasty. These systems are designed to analyse the stability of fluid motion in closed circuits with distributed power generation and to explore the physical phenomena of natural circulation typical of molten fuel reactors.

Laboratory Equipment

Dynasty (Dynamics of natural circulation for molten salt internally heated):

• Description: an experimental setup designed to study single-phase natural circulation with distributed power generation. The system simulates conditions where power is supplied along the circuit, analysing thermo-hydraulic dynamics and instabilities that may occur.
• Operational configurations: Dynasty can operate with various heating and cooling configurations, including:

• • Horizontal heating and cooling (HHHC).

  • Vertical heating and horizontal cooling (VHHC).

  • Distributed heating (DH).

eDynasty (extended DYNASTY)

• Description: an experimental circuit designed to study the coupling between systems with natural circulation. It functions as a cold well for Dynasty, enabling the analysis of thermo-hydraulic interactions between the two systems.
• Technical Features:
  

  • Made of AISI 304 stainless steel.

  • Inner tube diameter: 38 mm, wall thickness: 2 mm.

Coupling Between Dynasty and eDynasty

• A double-tube heat exchanger connects the two systems. This heat exchanger acts as a cold well for Dynasty and a thermal source for eDynasty.
• The coupling enables the study of how each circuit influences the stability of the other.

Laboratory Purpose

Dynamo conducts advanced theoretical-experimental research in the following fields:

• Fluid dynamics in natural circulation systems: analysis of thermo-hydraulic instabilities and thermal transients in closed circuits with different geometric configurations.
• Passive safety systems: characterisation and optimisation of decay heat removal systems based on self-sustaining thermofluidynamic principles, ensuring reactor integrity under accident conditions without the need for external intervention or electrical power.