METHOD FOR REMOVING SODIUM OXIDE FROM LIQUID SODIUM

Patent · 01 December 1957

OSTI ID:4329503

Bruggeman, W H; Voorhees, B G

A method is described for removing sodium oxide from a fluent stream of liquid sodium by coldtrapping the sodium oxide. Apparatus utilizing this method is disclosed in United States Patent No. 2,745,552. Sodium will remain in a molten state at temperatures below that at which sodium oxide will crystallize out and form solid deposits, therefore, the contaminated stream of sodium is cooled to a temperature at which the solubility of sodium oxide in sodium is substantially decreased. Thereafter the stream of sodium is passed through a bed of stainless steel wool maintained at a temperature below that of the stream. The stream is kept in contact with the wool until the sodium oxide is removed by crystal growth on the wool, then the stream is reheated and returned to the system. This method is useful in purifying reactor coolants where the sodium oxide would otherwise deposit out on the walls and eventually plug the coolant tubes.

• Research Organization: Originating Research Org. not identified
• NSA Number: NSA-12-006993
• Assignee: U.S. Atomic Energy Commission
• Patent Number(s): US 2815277
• OSTI ID: 4329503
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

CLEANING
CONTAMINATION
COOLING
CRYSTALLIZATION
HEATING
LIQUIDS
PATENT
PATENTS
SODIUM
SODIUM OXIDES
SOLUBILITY
STAINLESS STEELS
TEMPERATURE