Development of Reflux Vapor Trap for Sodium Cooled Fast Breeder Reactor, (I)

Basic Performance Tests

Abstract

With the view of obtaining basic data required for designing durable reflux vapor traps of high performance for use in sodium-cooled FBR's, experiments were conducted to (a) select a suitable packing, and (b) to examine the effect brought on trapping performance by changing the gas flow rate, packing material, packing density and trap outlet tempera-ture. The results indicated that:
(1) As trap packing, plane weave stainless steel mesh proved to ensure lower pressure drop through trap.
(2) Using the plane weave mesh packing, and with the trap outlet temperature kept at 130°C, the reflux vapor trap efficiency was found to exceed 99.6% in the range of vapor trap gas velocity below 1.3 m/s, and packing density below 0.07 g/cc. The efficiency decreased at outlet temperatures above 130°C.