Determination of the Heat-Exchange Characteristics of Low-Pressure Heat-Exchangers for Lead and Lead-Bismuth Cooled Loops

Abstract

Heat removal during transient processes in nuclear power installations and bench loops cooled by lead and lead-bismuth coolant is studied. It is shown that low-pressure heat-exchange equipment is effective. The studies were conducted in a non-isothermal loop with circulating of lead coolant at 450–500°C, average speed in the narrow section of the gap in longitudinal flow over the heat-exchange surface 0.1–1.05 m/sec, Peclet number 300–3300, and the oxygen thermodynamic activity in lead 1–10^–3. The processes occurring in a non-isothermal liquid-metal loop with an experimental heat-exchange section model the dependence of the heat-exchange characteristics on impurity mass transfer in the loop.