SELECTED DATA AND DISCUSSION OF THE PLUGGING INDICATOR FOR SODIUM LOOPS.

Technical Report · Thu Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1970

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/4085572· OSTI ID:4085572

Vilinskas, P.; Filewicz, E. C.; Humphreys, J. R.

The differences between manual, continuous, and oscillating plugging indicators in a sodium system are discussed briefly. The experimental data presented were obtained with the manual and the oscillating plugging indicators. The initial results showed that temperatures of manual plugging indicators did not agree with cold-trap temperatures as required by theory. Manual plugging runs were made to determine reasons for the large variation in temperature difference. The cooling rates were varied while maintaining constant plugging-indicator flow rate and cold-trap temperature. These results indicated the trend that at low cooling rates (approaching zero) the plugging temperature wold approach cold-trap temperature. Work at Los Alamos with the oscillating plugging indicator indicated the reasons for the large variation observed with the manual plugging indicators. The manual plugging indicator used in our tests was modified into an oscillating plugging indicator, and successful runs were made in the temperature range of 269-400 $sup o$F. Temperature changes of the cold trap, and hence the impurity concentration of the sodium in the system, were indicated on the temperature trace of the oscillating plugging indicator. The temperature differential between the cold trap and the manual plugging indicator was indeed reduced by operating in the oscillating mode. Premature precipitation was identified as an important factor in the operation of the oscillating plugging indicator. If the heating and cooling area of the plugging indicator is such as to allow precipitation of the impurities upstream from the orifice, then it becomes impossible to operate the device in the oscillating mode. Also, species other than oxide were evident in the test runs. (author)

• Research Organization: Argonne National Lab., Ill.
• Sponsoring Organization: US Atomic Energy Commission (AEC)
• DOE Contract Number: W-31109-ENG-38
• NSA Number: NSA-24-046386
• OSTI ID: 4085572
• Report Number(s): ANL--7658
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

DESIGN
IN PILE LOOPS
INSTRUMENTS
INSTRUMENTS/design and operation of plugging indicator
for sodium loops
LIQUID FLOW
LIQUID METALS
LOOPS/sodium flowrate in
measurement by plugging indicator
LOSSES
N24200* --Engineering--Facilities & Equipment
N30100 -- Metals
Ceramics
& Other Materials--Metals & Alloys
PERFORMANCE
SODIUM
SODIUM OXIDES
SODIUM/flowrate in loops
plugging indicator measurements of decrease in
TEMPERATURE
TESTING