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Pressure-pulse propagation in piping systems. Final report

Technical Report ·
DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/6165017· OSTI ID:6165017
Experiments were conducted in which well-characterized pulses were generated in water-filled stainless steel piping systems consisting of a straight section of pipe, an open rectangular loop, and a closed rectangular loop. In some of the experiments, the closed loop was fitted with a standoff pipe that was filled with either water or air. The pulse shapes were typical of those expected in the secondary piping system as a result of a sodium-water reaction in a Liquid Metal Fast Breeder Reactor. The pipe thickness and diameter and the elbow radius are those typical of the Clinch River Fast Breeder Reactor reduced to 1/8-scale. Elastic piping response was stimulated (no plastic deformations). Pulse propagation behavior was monitored by pressure transducers installed in the piping wall at key locations. The overall results show that pulse propagation behavior exhibits (1) reduction of peak pressure and impulse after traversing an elbow, (2) reduction of peak pressure, but not of impulse, after passing a filled standoff pipe, (3) annihilation when meeting an empty standoff pipe, and (4) simple pressure addition when meeting a similar pulse.
Research Organization:
Stanford Research Inst., Menlo Park, CA (USA)
DOE Contract Number:
AM03-76SF00893
OSTI ID:
6165017
Report Number(s):
DOE/SF/00893-T16; ON: DE81026468
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English