Sodium Material Test Loops

Forced convection liquid sodium loops designed for conducting sodium-exposure experiments.

Sodium material test loops are forced convection liquid sodium loops designed for conducting sodium-exposure experiments. The test loops are used to study corrosion performance of reactor materials in liquid sodium environments. Samples of interest can be exposed to flowing liquid sodium continuously for extended periods. Following exposure, the samples are retrieved, cleaned of residual sodium, and transported to other facilities for microstructural characterization, chemical analysis, and mechanical testing.

Sodium Materials Test loop – 1, a single-vessel forced convection sodium loop

Sodium Material Test loop – 1
(SMT-1)

SMT-1 is a single-vessel liquid sodium loop that includes one test vessel, one electromagnetic pump, two electromagnetic flow meters, two economizers, and a cold trap. The test vessel is equipped with three access ports for sample loading and retrieval, and several penetrations for thermocouples and argon/vacuum lines.

Flat tensile samples mounted on sample holders ready for sodium-exposure experiment
System specifications
  • Loop construction material: SS 316
  • Number of test vessels: 1
  • Number of access ports: 3
  • Maximum exposure temperature: < 650°C
  • Cover gas: argon
  • System pressure: < 5 psig
  • Sodium inventory: ~10 kg
  • Cold trap temperature: <140°C
Sodium Materials Test loop – 2, a two-vessel forced convection sodium loop

Sodium Material Test loop – 2
(SMT-2)

SMT-2 is a two-vessel liquid sodium loop comprising two test vessels, two electromagnetic pumps, three electromagnetic flow meters, three economizers, and a cold trap. Each test vessel is equipped with two access ports for sample loading and retrieval, and several penetrations for thermocouples and argon/vacuum lines. The total sodium inventory in the loop is approximately 20 kg.

SMT-2 control station
System specifications
  • Loop construction material: SS 316
  • Number of test vessels: 2 (can be operated at different temperatures)
  • Number of access ports on each vessel: 2
  • Maximum exposure temperature: < 650°C
  • Cover gas: argon
  • Maximum pressure: < 5 psig
  • Sodium inventory: ~20 kg
  • Cold trap temperature: <140°C
SMT-3 control station

Sodium Material Test loop – 3
(SMT-3)

SMT-3 is a liquid sodium loop consisting of four large test vessels, each of which can be operated independently at different temperatures. Each test vessel is equipped with a sample loading and retrieving port, as well as several penetrations for a level probe, thermocouples, and argon/vacuum lines.  Inside each vessel, an indexed rotational platter suspended beneath the top flange provides a total of 15 sample exposure positions.  The loop includes two electromagnetic pumps, three electromagnetic flow meters, five economizers, a dump tank, and a cold trap.  The total sodium inventory in SMT-3 is approximately 100 kg.  

System specifications
  • Loop construction material: SS 316
  • Number of test vessels: 4
  • Number of access ports for each vessel: 1
  • Number of sample exposure positions in each vessel: 15
  • Maximum exposure temperature: < 650°C
  • Cover gas: argon
  • System pressure: < 5 psig
  • Sodium inventory: ~100 kg
  • Cold trap temperature: <140°C
Sodium Materials Test loop – 3, a four-vessel forced convection sodium loop