Mechanisms Engineering Test Loop - Phase I Status Report - FY2018 (Update to FY2017 Report)

Abstract

This report documents the current status of the Mechanisms Engineering Test Loop (METL) as of August 2018. Currently, METL has completed Phase I construction, performed an initial heat-up of the METL piping, vessels, and components, baked out the facility under vacuum (minus the test vessels), addressed a variety of punchlist items, transferred sodium from 15 55-gallon drums to the dump tank, in the final commissioning/operations stage. Purpose & BackgroundWhen fully operational, the METL facility will test small to intermediate-scale components and systems in order to develop advanced liquid metal technologies. Testing different components in METL is essential for the future of advanced fast reactors as it should provide invaluable performance data and reduce the risk of failures during plant operation.METL also provides development opportunities for younger scientists, engineers, and designers who will ultimately lead the advancement of U.S. liquid metal technologies. The hands-on experience with METL, both successes and perceived failures; will ultimately lead to better liquid metal technology programs that can support the commercialization of advanced reactors. Some examples of technologies that can be tested in METL include:

Fabrication and Preliminary Demonstration of Microwave Resonant Cavity Transducer Performance

“…For order of magnitude calculations, differences in fluid densities by a factor of two can be neglected. The graph in Figure 3 shows a plot of σmax as a function of h for representative velocity values [10] of v = 1 m/s in Figure 3(a) and v = 0.5m/s in Figure 13(b). The fluid is taken to be water at room temperature.…”

Design of Microwave Resonant Cavity Transducer. Development of sensor performance model of microwave cavity flow meter for advanced reactor high temperature fluids

“…However, another study of SS316 in FLiBe estimated the corrosion rate at 700 o C estimated the corrosion rate to be between 17.1µm/year and 31.2µm/year. In the liquid sodium environment of the Mechanisms Engineering Test Loop (METL) [16], the operating conditions are maximum temperature of 650 o C, liquid sodium velocity in pipes under 1m/s, and oxide concentration of <5ppm. The corrosion rate of SS316 is expected to be approximately 0.1mil/year.…”

First Annual Report on Pulsed Thermal Tomography Nondestructive Evaluation of Additively Manufactured Reactor Materials and Components: Pulsed Thermal Tomography Nondestructive Examination of Additively Manufactured Reactor Materials and Components

“…Stainless steel 316 (SS316) is frequently used for manufacturing pressure vessel components in light water and advanced reactors because of the alloys high strength and resistance to corrosion [17]. The SS316 plate was with thickness of 6.22mm (0.25in) was produced with conventional metal fabrication techniques.…”

“…Stainless steel 304 (SS304), which has lower corrosion is frequently used for manufacturing components outside of the reactor pressure vessel, such as piping [17]. Transmission of flash light pulse through 9.45mm (0.37in) thick SS304 plate determined that α=3.89mm 2 /s.…”