Clarification of the detailed flow structure in new annular-type electromaginetic flow meter system for tank-type SFR

Abstract

Electromagnetic flow meter (EMF) has been applied to measure a flow rate of sodium in circular pipe using permanent magnet for a loop-type sodium-cooled Fast Reactor (SFR), such as Monju. To extend EMF to a tank-type SFR only with an annular flow channel in primary coolant system, new annular-type EMF using electromagnet with M-shaped iron core and three coils has been developed in TOSHIBA. In annular-type EMF, sodium flows under non-uniform magnetic field in annular flow channel. Thus, it is important to understand detailed flow pattern with the interaction of such a magnetic field, for the practical application of annular-type EMF. Flow rate in a tank-type SFR is lower than that in a loop-type SFR and then the interaction parameter N is lower than 1. Here the flow and the magnetic fields in an annular flow channel is analyzed with using our modified 3D magneto-hydrodynamic (MHD) code, and comparison of the result with that of experiments using our sodium loop installing annular-type EMF is reported. As the results, it was confirmed that our simulation code had a good acuracy from the comparison of experimental results and the velocity profile in the boundary layer under magnetic field was not expressed by the simple wall function. In addition, the calibration method of the annular-type EMF using section model could be validated from simulation results.

Keywords

• annular-type electromagnetic flow meter
• mhd simulation
• sodium test loop
• sfr