Esmeralda and Sodium Fires

摘要

After describing the various properties of sodium - used as a coolant in fast neutron reactors - the authors give an account of the research carried out in France into the ignition and combustion of this metal and ways of overcoming them. They describe the Esmeralda plant, installed at Cadarache, which will make it possible to execute large-scale experiments on extinguishing sodium fires and to carry out research and development studies in connection with fast neutron reactors. (ERA citation 10:002408)