Design of MSR primary circuit with minimum pressure losses

Tomáš Noga,Václav Valenta,Pavel Žitek,P Dančová

doi:10.1051/epjconf/201714302081

Abstract

This article describes a design of a MSR primary circuit with minimum pressure losses. It includes a brief description of this type of a reactor and its integral layout, properties, purpose, etc. The objective of this paper is to define problems of pressure losses calculation and to design a proper device for a primary circuit of MSR reactor, including its basic dimensions. Thanks to this, it can become an initial project for a construction of a real piece of work. This is the main contribution of the carried out study. Of course, this article is not a detailed solution, but it points out facts and problems, which future designers may have to face. The further step of our work will be a reconstruction of the current experiment for a two-stage flowing.

Highlights

The development policy for these reactors has been planned so that at least some of them are prepared to be used in 2020 to 2030, when a service life of currently used reactors will have expired
Advantages of molten salts, in comparison with most of used coolants, can be summarized generally in four points: x high specific thermal capacity x high boiling point x low pressures of saturated vapours under high temperatures x low melting point The following points rank among the main disadvantages of fluoride salts: x high demands on liquid salts purity x need of a perfect moisture removal from liquid salts – when in a contact with H2O, hydrofluoric acid (HF) is created, which has strong corrosive effects x relatively high solidification temperature of liquid salts x high demands on construction materials – temperature, corrosive activity of liquid salts x need of an embedded secondary circuit for radiation safety [8]
The meaning of the calculation is to optimize basic circuit dimensions and summarize concrete local and friction losses, see Fig. 2, and particular local and friction losses are summarized, whereas they were calculated onto the whole primary circuit of the reactor, see the results stated in Tab. 3

Summary

IV Generation Molten Salt Reactor

The development policy for these reactors has been planned so that at least some of them are prepared to be used in 2020 to 2030, when a service life of currently used reactors will have expired They are reactors able to provide us with sufficient energy safely and economically. This type of a reactor has several benefits It allows for broader possibilities of processing nuclear fuel (Th-233 U cycle of denatured Th-233), including the use of a fast breeder reactor regime for Th-233U cycle. It provides a better "on-line" control of the whole reactor (fuel is liquid, homogeneous; so-called campaigns related to the fuel replacement in reactors with solid propellants are dropped) [5]

MSR Primary circuit

Advantages and disadvantages of fluoride salts

Design of an integral layout of a MSR primary circuit

Calculation of pressure losses of a MSR primary circuit

Evaluation and conclusion

12. Mixing chamber screen