Development of gas entrainment mitigation devices for PFBR hot pool

The phenomenon of argon gas entrainment into primary sodium in the hot pool of a liquid Sodium cooled Fast Reactor (SFR) is investigated. A combined experimental and computational approach is proposed. Physical entrainment of argon into sodium is highly geometry dependent and the present study is focused on the Indian Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor (PFBR). The computational model which is used for parametric studies is validated against a 1/4 scale water model tests. Based on systematic experiments, the free surface velocity for onset of gas entrainment is determined to be 0.32 m/s, and the corresponding threshold value for the surface vorticity has been estimated as 8.3 s -1. A horizontal baffle plate attached to inner vessel is found to reduce the free surface velocity/vorticity effectively. The radial width of the baffle plate and its elevation has been optimized to be 0.125 m and 0.315 m from free surface by computational studies. The optimized device has been tested in the water model to confirm its satisfactory performance before its recommendation for PFBR. © 2013 Elsevier B.V.