This paper describes the results of an experimental campaign concerning the possibility of achieving a steady state circulation by gas-injection in a pool containing lead–bismuth eutectic (LBE) as working fluid. The activity was aimed at gaining information about the basic mechanisms of the gasinjectionenhancedcirculation intended as a pumping system for a liquid metal cooled reactor. In particular, the paper is focused on the experimental work performed in the CIRCE large-scale facility, installed at the ENEA Brasimone Centre for studying the fluid-dynamic and operating behaviour of ADS reactor plants cooled by LBE. The gasenhancedcirculation tests were carried out for different LBE temperatures (from 200 to 320 °C), under isothermal conditions and with a wide range of argon injected flow rates (from 0.5 to 7.0 Nl/s). The gas is injected from the bottom of the riser, by means of an appropriate nozzle, and the liquid metal flow rate is measured by a Venturi-Nozzle flow meter installed in the single phase part of the test section. The obtained results allowed formulating a characteristic curve of the system and evaluating the void fraction distribution along the riser path by means differential pressure measurements, which play an important role to generating the driving force for the circulation.
Experimental Study on Gas-Injection Enhanced Circulation performed with the CIRCE Facility
FORGIONE, NICOLA;ORIOLO, FRANCESCO;
2007-01-01
Abstract
This paper describes the results of an experimental campaign concerning the possibility of achieving a steady state circulation by gas-injection in a pool containing lead–bismuth eutectic (LBE) as working fluid. The activity was aimed at gaining information about the basic mechanisms of the gasinjectionenhancedcirculation intended as a pumping system for a liquid metal cooled reactor. In particular, the paper is focused on the experimental work performed in the CIRCE large-scale facility, installed at the ENEA Brasimone Centre for studying the fluid-dynamic and operating behaviour of ADS reactor plants cooled by LBE. The gasenhancedcirculation tests were carried out for different LBE temperatures (from 200 to 320 °C), under isothermal conditions and with a wide range of argon injected flow rates (from 0.5 to 7.0 Nl/s). The gas is injected from the bottom of the riser, by means of an appropriate nozzle, and the liquid metal flow rate is measured by a Venturi-Nozzle flow meter installed in the single phase part of the test section. The obtained results allowed formulating a characteristic curve of the system and evaluating the void fraction distribution along the riser path by means differential pressure measurements, which play an important role to generating the driving force for the circulation.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
