Physical Chemistry and Technology of Alkaline Liquid-Metal Coolant: A Retrospective-Perspective Look
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PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY AND TECHNOLOGY OF ALKALINE LIQUID-METAL COOLANT: A RETROSPECTIVE-PERSPECTIVE LOOK
V. V. Alekseev, Yu. A. Kuzina, and A. P. Sorokin
UDC 536.24+621.039.553.34
The results of studies on the physical chemistry, mass transfer, and technology of alkali liquid-metal coolant are reported. The state of the coolant is determined by the interaction coolant-impurities-structural materials-protective gas. The impurity sources and their intensity were determined: sodium and sodium-potassium alloy – oxygen, hydrogen (tritium), carbon, products of corrosion of structural materials, nitrogen, and the protective gas, lithium- nitrogen. The following data were obtained on the impurities in the coolant: form, equilibrium concentration, solubility, reaction kinetics, and mechanisms of heterogeneous and homogeneous mass transfer. It was shown that the required concentration of the impurities in sodium and the sodium-potassium alloy guaranteeing the design-basis parameters and a low rate of corrosion of the structural materials is achieved on purification by means of cold traps. Deeper purification of coolants in high temperature NPF intended for use in space is achieved by means of getters (hot traps). The behavior of tritium and hydrogen in the sodium loops in NPP with fast reactors was studied. A new combined system is proposed for purification from impurities in high-temperature NPF for hydrogen production at sodium temperature ~900°C.
The use of molten liquid metals as coolant in NPF required the development of a new science – physicochemical principles of the use of liquid-metal coolant, research needed to select and validate methods of purification of coolants and monitoring their impurity content, development of technologies taking into account the particulars of operating NPF, and the equipment in the liquid-metal loops, mastering methods of their safe and efficient operation, and so on. The first information on sodium and sodium-potassium coolant was obtained from an American monograph which appeared first in the form of photocopies of the original in the English language. Later, in 1957, a translation of this book, edited by A. E. Sheindlin, was published by Izdatel’stvo Inostrannoi Literatury [Publishing House of Foreign Literature] and became a ready reference for researchers during the first period of assimilation of liquid-metal coolants. Subsequently, after a comparatively short first period, original Russian studies and developments appeared at IPPE and other enterprises in the USSR that ultimately advanced our country to leading positions in the science and technology of liquid-metal coolants. These positions were bolstered by successful operations since 1981 of the BN-600 sodium-cooled industrial fast reactor, launching of a series of space satellites with NPF on board, and other work. Speaking about achievements, it is important to recall that the first acquaintance, the first experiments with sodium as a coolant in NPF occurred on the Protva River, into whose water lumps of sodium were tossed.
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