ORNL-4191 - the Molten Salt Energy Technologies Web Site

centers '/B in. from the graphite center line. A
horizontal gas separation tank connects the top of
the core through a return line to the bottom of the
core, completing the loop circuit. These and the
core shell were fabricated of Hastelloy N, as was
the 12-ft-long sample tube which connects the
loop to the sample station in the equipment cham-
ber at the ORR shield face. The Hastelloy N was
from material in fabrication of the MSHE and which
had not been modified to improve its resistance to
irradiation embrittlement. The electric heating
elements and cooling tubes surrounding the com-
ponent parts of the loop were embedded in sprayed
ni clt el.
Figure 15.2 is a photograph of the partially
assembled loop showing the configuration of the
salt flow channels in the top of the graphite core.
An identical configuration was used for the bottom
of the core section. Total volume of the loop was
110 cc, with a 43-cc salt volume in the graphite.
177
Fig. 15.1. Diagram of Molten-Salt In-Pile LDOD 2.
5"
15.2 OPERATION
After assembly, the loop was tested for Ieaktightness,
flushed with argon gas, and vacuum
pumped at 600T for 20 hr to remove air and
moisture The loop was flushed with solvent salt,
then recharged with fresh solvent salt and operated
at temperature for 248 hr in the mockup facilities
in Building 9204-1, Y-12.
During the out-of-pile test period, 15 salt samples
were removed from the loop and 12 salt additions
were made, providing a good demonstration
of the salt sample and addition system.
The loop package containing the solvent salt
used in the preirradiation test period was installed
in beam hole I-IN-1 of the ORR, and inpile
operation was started on January 12, 1967.
Samples of the solvent salt ( 7LiF-BeF,-ZrF,,
64.8-30.1-5 1 mole %) were taken on January 13
before the start of irradiation and again on
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