Experimental and numerical simulation of gas bubbles motion in liquid metal

Usov, E. V.; Лобанов, П. Д.; Chuhno, V. I.; Kutlimetov, A. E.; Svetonosov, A. I.; Прибатурин, Н. А.; Mosunova, N. A.

doi:10.1088/1742-6596/1128/1/012044

Cited by 1 publication

(1 citation statement)

References 6 publications

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“…Each of these concepts, however, indispensably call for a heat transfer interface, usually a heat exchanger, between the primary coolant (molten metal) and the secondary coolant (water/helium). A compromised structural integrity of this interface could result in a molten metal-gas/steam two-phase flow, thereby manifesting into several safety concerns including an affected core reactivity/voiding, hazardous process transients, fuel relocation, cavitation related damages, pump discharge fluctuations, impaired heat removal and technical challenges toward satisfactory functioning of critical process instrumentation participating in safety interlocks [5][6][7][8][9][10]. Similarly, the fusion fuel cycle employing molten metals inherently suffers from helium gas generation, with a low solubility, within the breeder volume.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Design, fabrication and validation of an electrical conductivity principle based two-phase detection sensor array for molten lead (Pb) based heavy metal coolants up to 600°C

Saraswat,

Bhattacharyay,

Gedupudi

et al. 2024

J. Inst.

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Molten lead (Pb) and its alloys (PbBi and PbLi) are of immense interest for various nuclear engineering applications, including but not limited to advanced Lead-cooled Fast Reactors (LFRs), tritium Breeding Blankets (BBs) of fusion power plants and spallation targets for Accelerator-Driven Systems (ADS). Owing to their attractive thermophysical properties, these advanced fluids assert their candidacy to address the critical requirements of neutron multiplication, neutron moderation, high temperature coolants and tritium breeders, enabling the operation of next generation nuclear systems at high temperatures with better efficiencies. However, for numerous reasons such as a compromise of structural integrity at the heat transfer interface, presence of an inert cover gas during charging of molten metal in the loop, and the fusion fuel cycle itself may lead to molten metal-gas two-phase flows with high density ratios. At present, no effective diagnostics exist to detect such operational and accidental occurrences in high temperature molten metal systems resulting in a severe lack of relevant experimental studies. To address these limitations and to advance the current understanding toward two-phase regimes in high temperature Pb-based melts, the present work focuses on the design and assembly aspects of an electrical conductivity-based two-phase detection sensor array, utilizing high purity α-Al2O4 coatings with AlPO4 binder as electrical insulation layers. This paper discusses the design considerations, thermal analysis, systematic selection of structural/functional components along with preliminary results from the probe performance tests in very high temperature (600°C) static molten Pb column for real time detection of argon gas bubbles rising within the melt. Quantitative estimations of time-averaged void fraction, average bubble impaction frequency and average bubble residence time are presented from the preliminary experimental investigations.

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