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7.2 MSBR FUEL CELL OPERATION
WITH MOLTEN SALT
Dunlap Scott P. G. Smith
We have started an experimental program designed
to give an early demonstration of the compatibility
of a full-sized graphile fuel cell with a flowing salt
strcmn. The cell will include graphite-to-graphite
and the graphite-to-metal joints. An existing
facility, the Engineering Test Loop from the MSKE
development program, 1s being reactivated for this
work.
The loop will be operated with a single cell over
a range of conditions expected in the MSBR. 'These
are:
Flow rate
Temperature
18 to 35 gptn
1000 to 1300°F
Helium overpressure 5 to 20 psig
Design of the alterations needed for the loop to
accept the fuel cell was begun, the circulating
HE L llJM
SUPPLY
ET3
SUPPLY
750 crn3/rnin
r- --- -- -- - i
FLOW
CONTROL.
95
pump was completely renovated, and the procure-
ment of some loop materials was started. The
procurement of a representative graphite for the
fuel cell is expected to be a critical. item, and,
therefore, the size of the cell in the initial tests
will be controlled by the available graphite.
7.3 SODIUM FLUOROBORATE CIRCULATING
LOOP TEST
P. G. Smith A. N. Smith
An existing WSKE-scale forced convection salt
loop is being altered to accept sodium fluoroborate
(NaHF,) as the circulating medium. 'This test is
part of a program to qualify NaBF, for use as a
coolant for the MSBR,
The salt loop is part of the Fuel Pump High-
Temperature Endurance Test Facility and normally
uses Li-Be-U fluoride salts, which have very low
vapor pressures at the temperatures of interest.
Since the NaBF4 exerts a BF, partial pressure of
PUMP SHAFT PIJRGE
,/
TOTAL PRESSURE, 25 psig
BF3 PARTIAL PRESSURE, 18 psi
,PUMP TANK (
Fig. 7.4. Cover Gas Control System for the Fluoroborate Test.
4 STACK
ORNL-DWG 67-418%