ORNL-1816 - the Molten Salt Energy Technologies Web Site
ORNL-1816 - the Molten Salt Energy Technologies Web Site
ORNL-1816 - the Molten Salt Energy Technologies Web Site
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ANP QUARTERLY PROGRESS REPORT<br />
X<br />
3<br />
-I LL<br />
_I 4<br />
5<br />
W I<br />
5<br />
4<br />
3<br />
2<br />
I<br />
0<br />
0<br />
IO 20 30 40 50<br />
balancing systems, installation of a vacuum sink<br />
on <strong>the</strong> reactor-fuel inlet-pressure-transmitter pi lot<br />
valve to protect <strong>the</strong> pressure transmitter during<br />
<strong>the</strong> vacuum fill of <strong>the</strong> fuel system, installation of<br />
a gas nozzle antiplugging device on <strong>the</strong> fuel pump<br />
tank to reduce <strong>the</strong> zirconium fluoride vapor-<br />
condensate plugging problem, and a functional<br />
check and setting of low-flow alarms on water<br />
and lubricating oil systems.<br />
After about 24 hr of hot prenuclear operation,<br />
some noises from <strong>the</strong> bearing housing of <strong>the</strong> main<br />
fuel pump were noted. This disturbance was first<br />
,heard on <strong>the</strong> crystal noise pickups. After many<br />
i'kcreases and decrease, in intensity, <strong>the</strong> noise<br />
finally subsided, and <strong>the</strong> bearing housing per.<br />
formed quietly during <strong>the</strong> sealed pit operation.<br />
No detectable increase in drive-motor power oc-<br />
curred during <strong>the</strong> time <strong>the</strong> noises were heard.<br />
16<br />
RADIUS (cm)<br />
Fig. 1.4. ARE Thermal Flux vs Radius.<br />
5eeRw<br />
<strong>ORNL</strong>-LR-DWG 445(<br />
I I<br />
60 70<br />
During <strong>the</strong> filling of <strong>the</strong> fuel system and subsequent<br />
nuclear operation, <strong>the</strong>re was some leakage<br />
from <strong>the</strong> gas space of <strong>the</strong> main fuel pump tank.<br />
This pump tank served as a fluid expansion and<br />
degassing chamber, as well as <strong>the</strong> pump sump<br />
tank. The gas leakage may have been associated<br />
with any or all compression joints (spark plug<br />
probes, Swagelok fittings), with any welded gas<br />
flange seal, or with <strong>the</strong> two compression joints<br />
in <strong>the</strong> rotary element.<br />
The water and <strong>the</strong> lubricating oil auxiliary<br />
systems on all four pumps (including two standby<br />
pumps) functioned without incident during <strong>the</strong><br />
'.<br />
entire experiment. The seal gas-balancing systems<br />
on <strong>the</strong> pumps also functioned without incident.<br />
The liquid level indicating probes on <strong>the</strong> two<br />
sodium pumps and on <strong>the</strong> main fuel pump (<strong>the</strong><br />
standby fuel pump was isolated from <strong>the</strong> fuel<br />
L C .<br />
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