Magnetohydrodynamics approach for active decay heat removal system in future generation IV reactor

Summary In this work, a helical‐type magnetohydrodynamics transportation system for active decay‐heat‐removal system in a prototype fourth‐generation sodium fast reactor was numerically analysed considering operational conditions of atmospheric pressure, for liquid sodium transportation in a loop. The prototype fourth‐generation sodium fast reactor is a reactor with high uranium utilisation and an electric power output of 150 MWe, subjected to a developed pressure of 10 kPa and flowrate of 0.005 m3/s under a temperature condition of 468.75 K for the active decay‐heat‐removal system. A helical‐type magnetohydrodynamics transportation system was used to develop pressure in such a loop to reduce the current compared with that in a rectangular‐type one; this could overcome the principal limitation of the requirement of a high current in a magnetohydrodynamics transportation system. The main parameters of the considered helical‐type magnetohydrodynamics transportation system were the inner diameter, silver brazing, number of turns, and radius of pump, which affect the current, magnetic‐flux density, and its velocity. The parameters were analysed in relation to the minimisation of the pump current while maximising the pressure. The specifications of the optimised helical‐type magnetohydrodynamics transportation system—current of 352 A and magnetic‐flux density of 0.466 T—were derived to satisfy the conditions of the active decay‐heat‐removal system. The helical‐type magnetohydrodynamics transportation system for active decay heat removal system in prototype gen‐IV sodium fast reactor with the operation condition of atmospheric pressure was numerically analysed for liquid sodium transportation in a loop. The parameters were analysed in relation to the minimisation of the pump current while maximising the pressure.