Features of fault processes due to leaks of water into sodium in a counterflow steam generator

Abstract

A so-called counterflow generator (sodium in the tubes, water between them) enables simplification of the protection system and increases the reliability in preventing a small leak from becoming a large one. A figure shows the typical limits to the conditions. The equation used shows that the transition to the displacement mode occurs at low gas flow rates when the lifting force produced by a gas bubble exceeds the pressure loss between the chambers. At the end of each experiment it was found that there was a solid deposit below the water entry point, which occupied much of the cross section, which contained sodium oxide, hydride, and hydroxide as well as the metal. The authors note that the conterflow generator has already passed testbed examination, and that industrial tests on the generator will provide information on the desirability of using that type of generator in nuclear power stations containing high-power BN reactors.