Prediction of sodium leakage droplet size distribution in sodium-cooled fast reactor loop

Abstract

Sodium spray fire is a significant containment-related safety concern in sodium-cooled fast reactors (SFRs). The droplet size distribution of sodium spray is an important factor affecting the combustion intensity of sodium spray fire. Due to the unstable chemical properties of sodium, water is usually used to simulate sodium to carry out spray experiments, and the droplet size relationship between them needs to be obtained. Based on the unstable wave theory, the droplet size similarity model characterized by liquid physical property parameters and atomization pressure difference is developed and verified from the two aspects of pressure and physical property parameters, and compared with existing models. Furthermore, an experimental facility of water atomization using a nozzle to simulate a break is built and the droplet size of water atomization under the differential pressure range of 1.0 bar–6.0 bar is obtained. The droplet size similarity model is used to predict the sodium atomization droplet size at 300–600 °C under different pressures based on these experimental data.