Sodium technology at EBR-II

Conference · Thu Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1976

OSTI ID:7180757

Holmes, J T; Smith, C R.F.; Olson, W H

Since the installation of purity monitoring systems in 1967, the control of the purity of the primary and secondary sodium and cover gas systems at the Experimental Breeder Reactor II (EBR-II) has been excellent. A rigorous monitoring program is being used to assure that operating limits for more than 25 chemical and radioactive impurities are not exceeded. The program involves the use of sophisticated sampling and analysis techniques and on-line monitors for both sodium and cover gas systems. Sodium purity control is accomplished by essentially continuous cold trapping of a small side stream of the total circulating sodium. The cold traps have been found to be very effective for the removal of the major chemical impurities (oxygen and hydrogen) and tritium but are almost ineffective for /sup 131/I and /sup 137/Cs that enter the sodium from fuel cladding breaks. Purging with pure argon maintains the cover gas purity.

• Research Organization: Argonne National Lab., Ill. (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: W-31109-ENG-38
• OSTI ID: 7180757
• Report Number(s): CONF-760503-9
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS
220600* -- Nuclear Reactor Technology-- Research
Test & Experimental Reactors
ALKALI METALS
BREEDER REACTORS
COLD TRAPS
CONDENSERS
COOLING SYSTEMS
COVER GAS
EBR-2 REACTOR
ELEMENTS
EPITHERMAL REACTORS
EXPERIMENTAL REACTORS
FAST REACTORS
FBR TYPE REACTORS
IMPURITIES
INERT ATMOSPHERE
LIQUID METAL COOLED REACTORS
METALS
POWER REACTORS
REACTOR COMPONENTS
REACTOR COOLING SYSTEMS
REACTORS
RESEARCH AND TEST REACTORS
SODIUM
SODIUM COOLED REACTORS
TRAPS
VAPOR CONDENSERS