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ANP PROJECT PROGRESS REPORT
TABLE 1.4.5. SUMMARY OF TESTS OF ZrF, ADSORBENTS
Fuel Trap He1 i um Weight of Zr
Adsorbent
Material
Temperature
(OF1
Temperature
(OF)
Flow Rate
tfps)
Hours
operated
Not Trapped
(ma)
Gmme n t s
Na F 1300 1300
1320 1400 to 80d
1200 to SOP
A1203 1320 1400
1400 1400 to SO@
CaC12 1315 1285 to 1335
Charcoal 1315 1385 to 1419
1308 to 132lC
1110 to 116F
uTemperature gradient along the trap.
bHours operated as of May 15, 1956.
CTemperature variations during test.
0.0573 26 0 5
0.105 119 5
0.214 98 67.1
0.0520 96 18.4
0.09 10 112
0.0568 96 28.4
0.0930 112 46.0
0.098 480b
0.0978 40
experimental plugging temperatures obtained as a
function of fuel temperature, as well as the satu-
ration temperatures predicted from both ORNL and
Battelle Memorial Institute vapor pressure data, are
given in Fig. 1.4.12. The experimental plugging
temperatures agree to within 5% with the tempera-
tures predicted from the vapor-pressure data. The
experimental plugging temperatures and the pre-
dicted temperatures differ because the he1 ium was
not actually saturated with ZrF, in the experiments.
Two prototype vapor traps, of the type described
previously,21 have been tested. Prototype trap
No. 2, which was connected to the fuel pump of
intermediate heat exchanger test stand B and was
cooled by natural convection and radiation, plugged
21J. J. Milich and J. W. Kingsley, ANP Qua?. hog.
Rep. Dec. 10, 1955, ORNL-2012, p 60.
64
0.0978 40 62
0.0978 66 703
0.0978 96.4 1496
NaF pellets melted in front part
of trap because of formation of
ZrF4-NaF eutectic
NaF pellets melted in inlet
section; contents of water trap
of second run lost because of
leak in water trap
Plug in off-gas line believed to
be AlF3 from HF reaction with
AI2O3; water found in helium
supply during this run
Still in operation; no sign of
plugging
GCI2 melted and hence is un-
satisfactory
Inspection of trap showed hat
ZrF, had precipitated in large
individual crystals; plugs
formed in off-gas line from trap
in oll tests
with entrained fuel after 12 hr of operation. The
pump off-gas line had been installed to closely
approximate one designed for the ART. The fuel
entrainment indicated the need for redesign of the
off-gas line. Prototype trap No. 3, which is water
cooled and mounted on a fuel sump through which
helium is bubbled, was placed in operation on
April 27. The pressure required to maintain the
helium flow at 3.0 litershin increased from 3.0 psi
to 5.0 psi in 50 hr. There was no further rise in
the pressure required to maintain the flow until
the test was terminated after 420 hr. Two layers
of ZrF, were found in the trap entrance just up-
L
stream of the tribe header. The first layer was
rather dense and amorphous, and the second layer
was more porous and crystalline. A total of 984 g .
of ZrF, was found in the layers, which totaled
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