Reactor material debris formation scoping tests
Although the Integral Fast Reactor (TFR) possesses inherent safety features, an assessment of the consequences of the melting of the metal fuel and its subsequent contact with sodium is necessary for risk analysis. A test series has therefore been conducted to study the breakup behavior of uranium alloy during downward relocation through sodium. In the previously reported first phase of this study the breakup behavior of uranium alloy during downward relocation through sodium. In the previously reported first phase of this study eight tests were conducted in which the parameters were melt superheat, injection velocity, pour steam diameter, and melt material. The parameters of the second phase of this study (reported here) were sodium depth, melt superheat and uranium-iron eutectic. The sodium depth ranged from 0.15 to 0.9 m and the superheat was 400C for tests with uranium (mp 1133C) and 800C for tests with the U-10 wt % Fe (mp 725C) eutectic. A 25-mm thick base plate was installed in sodium vessel in the tests with shallow sodium depths (0.15 and 0.3 m) to determine impingment heat flux. The particles produced by the pour stream breakup were primarily in the form of sheets with filament formation. Because the higher superheat for the U-10 wt % Fe tests permitted more hydrodynamic action before freezing, these particles were somewhat rounder and smaller (mean size {approximately}4 mm) than the uranium particles (mean size {approximately}10 mm). The particle shape could also be characteristic of the iron alloy. A sodium depth of less than 0.3 m was required for hydrodynamic breakup and freezing of the uranium melt pour stream. The temperature response of the base plate for particle bed impingement in the tests with shallow sodium pools was in reasonable agreement with a simple model based on semi-infinite mediums and average properties for the particle bed. 16 refs., 14 figs., 2 tabs.
- Research Organization:
- Argonne National Lab., IL (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-31109-ENG-38
- OSTI ID:
- 714482
- Report Number(s):
- ANL-IFR--91; ON: TI88014385
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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