Thermophysical Studies – the Foundation for Sodium Using in Modern Fast Reactors

9/10/2025 2025 - #03 Thermal physics and thermal hydraulics

Sorokin A.P. Kuzina Yu.A. Alekseev V.V. Denisova N.A.

https://doi.org/10.26583/npe.2025.3.08

As a result of a large complex of experimental and theoretical studies of sodium coolant, a scientific substantiation of highly efficient technologies and thermal-hydraulic parameters of modern installations with fast neutron reactors BN-600 and BN-800 was carried out. The paper presents and analyzes the physical and chemical processes and technology of sodium coolant: formation, mass transfer and deposition in circulation circuits of oxides and corrosion products, methods and means of purification and control of impurities in sodium coolant, as well as the results of studies on hydrodynamics and heat exchange in the core and equipment units (heat exchangers, sodium-water steam generators) of BN-600 and BN-800 reactors, flow parts of collector systems of heat exchangers and reactors, physical features and characteristics of the boiling process of liquid metal coolant in the core in emergency modes, obtained to substantiate thermal hydraulics and reactor safety.

References

1. Alekseev V.V., Efanov A.D., Kozlov F.A., Sorokin A.P. Thermal-hydraulics, physical chemistry, and technology at nuclear power stations equipped with fast-neutron sodium-cooled reactors. Thermal Engineering. 2007;54(12):933–941. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1134/S0040601507120014
2. Rachkov V.I., Arnol’dov M.N., Efanov A.D., Kalyakin S.G., Kozlov F.A., Loginov N.I., Orlov Yu.I., Sorokin A.P. Use of liquid metals in nuclear and thermonuclear engineering, and in other innovative technologies. Thermal Engineering, 2014;61(5):337–347. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1134/S0040601514050085
3. Kozlov F.A., Alekseev V.V., Sorokin A.P. Development of sodium coolant technology for fast reactors. Atomic energy. 2014;116(4):278–284. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10512-014-9854-8
4. Alekseev V.V., Sergeev G.P., Kozub P.S. Matyukhin V.V., Sorokin A.P. Experimental model of the IVA-M device for monitoring hydrogen in sodium coolant. Izvestiya vuzov. Yadernaya Energetika, 2011;3:47–55. DOI: https://doi.org/10.26583/npe.2011.3.06 (in Russian).
5. Blokhin V.A., Borisov V.V., Kamaev A.A., Kukharchuk O.F., Meshakin V.I., Pakhomov I.A., Poplavsky V.M., Suvorov A.A., Trufanov A.A. Sensors for intra-reactor control of hydrogen and oxygen in liquid sodium. Problems of atomic science and technology. Series: Nuclear reactor constants, 2017;4. URL: https://vant.ippe.ru/en/year2017/4/thermal-physics-hydrodynamics/1388-1.html (accessed June 20, 2025) (in Russian).
6. Bogoslovkaya G.P., Cevolani S., Ninokata H, Rinejski A.A. Sorokin A.P., Zhukov A.V. LMFR Core and Heat Exchanger Thermohydraulic Design: Former USSR and Present Russia Approaches. IAEA-TECDOC-1060. Vienna: IAEA, 1999, 305 p.
7. Gabrianovich B.N., Delnov V.N. Features of hydrodynamics of flow parts of collector systems of heat exchangers and reactors of nuclear power plants. Sarov: FSUE ‘RFNC-VNIIEF’ Publ., 2016, 216 p. (in Russian).
8. Opanasenko A.N., Sorokin A.P., Zaryugin D.G., Rachkov M.V. Coolant stratification in nuclear power facilities. Atomic Energy, 2011;111(3):172–178. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10512-012-9483-z
9. Ushakov P.A., Zhukov A.V., Yuryev Yu.S. Local hydrodynamic characteristics of longitudinal-transverse flow in the model of shell-and-tube heat exchangers of fast reactors. Collection of materials of the inter-industry conference ‘Thermophysical research – 76’. VIMI Publ., 1977, pp. 5–16 (in Russian).
10. Efanov A.D., Sorokin A.P., Ivanov E.F., Bogoslovskaia G.P., Ivanov V.V., Volkov A.D., Sorokin G.A., Zueva I.R. Heat transfer under natural convection of liquid metal during its boiling in a system of channels. Thermal Engineering, 2007;54:214–222. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1134/S0040601507030081

fast reactors sodium physical chemistry technology thermal hydraulics safety experiment calculation codes boiling core heat exchanger steam generator accident regimes

Link for citing the article: Sorokin A.P., Kuzina Yu.A., Alekseev V.V., Denisova N.A. Thermophysical Studies – the Foundation for Sodium Using in Modern Fast Reactors. Izvestiya vuzov. Yadernaya Energetika. 2025, no. 3, pp. 112-121; DOI: https://doi.org/10.26583/npe.2025.3.08 (in Russian).