Experimental investigations on sodium plugging in narrow flow channels.

Journal Article · Sun Aug 01 04:00:00 EDT 2010 · Nucl. Technol.

OSTI ID:989068

Momozaki, Y; Cho, D H; Sienicki, J J; Moisseytsev, A

A series of experiments was performed to investigate the potential for plugging of narrow flow channels of sodium by impurities (e.g., oxides). In the first phase of the experiments, clean sodium was circulated through the test sections simulating flow channels in a compact diffusion-bonded heat exchanger such as a printed circuit heat exchanger. The primary objective was to see if small channels whose cross sections are semicircles of 2, 4, and 6 mm in diameter are usable in liquid sodium applications where sodium purity is carefully controlled. It was concluded that the 2-mm channels, the smallest of the three, could be used in clean sodium systems at temperatures even as low as 100 to 110 C without plugging. In the second phase, sodium oxide was added to the loop, and the oxygen concentration in the liquid sodium was controlled by means of varying the cold-trap temperature. Intentional plugging was induced by creating a cold spot in the test sections, and the subsequent plugging behavior was observed. It was found that plugging in the 2-mm test section was initiated by lowering the cold spot temperature below the cold-trap temperature by 10 to 30 C. Unplugging of the plugged channels was accomplished by heating the affected test section.

• Research Organization: Argonne National Laboratory (ANL)
• Sponsoring Organization: SC
• DOE Contract Number: AC02-06CH11357
• OSTI ID: 989068
• Report Number(s): ANL/NE/JA-63830
• Journal Information: Nucl. Technol., Journal Name: Nucl. Technol. Journal Issue: 2 ; Aug. 2010 Vol. 171; ISSN 0029-5450
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: ENGLISH

Related Subjects

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS
FLOW BLOCKAGE
FLUID FLOW
HEAT EXCHANGERS
IMPURITIES
LIQUID METALS
PERFORMANCE TESTING
SODIUM
SODIUM OXIDES
TEMPERATURE CONTROL
TUBES