PUMP LOOPS USED FOR MATERIALS TESTING IN HIGH TEMPERATURE AQUEOUS SOLUTIONS AND SLURRIES

摘要

Pump loops designed to operate at temperatures and pressures to 320°C and 2,000 psia are described. These loops were used to circulate uranyl sulfate solutions and aqueous thoria slurries in out-of-pile tests for the aqueous homogeneous reactor program. As this phase of the aqueous homogeneous reactor program was completed, the loops were converted for use in studies of materials of interest to other types of reactors.nSolutions or slurries are circulated in the loops by means of a 100 gpm canned-motor centrifugal pump. The loop piping is of 1- or l-l/2-in. size and pressurizers of 4-in. pipe are used where required for steam pressurization. Two of the loops were constructed of commercially pure titanium while all others were of type 347 stainless steel. Some loops are hydraulically pressurized by means of a feed pump and letdown valve arrangement. The nominal volumes of the 15 loops which have been constructed varies between 10 and 30 liters, and each loop was designed to contain a large number of corrosion test specimens of various types for exposure under a wide range of conditions.