High Temperature Sodium Submersible Flowmeter Design and Analysis

This work details the design and analysis of a permanent magnet flowmeter designed to be submerged in a pool type sodium fast reactor environment. Recently developed Samarium Cobalt rare earth magnets were utilized that have demonstrated resilience to temperature and neutron flux up to 550 degrees C and 10(18) n/cm(2), respectively. This paper will discuss the theory, design, calibration and uncertainty quantification of the flowmeter. The flowmeter was calibrated over a flowrate range of 11.4 - 90.9 LPM at temperatures of 220 and 400 degrees C, yielding an uncertainty in calibration of 2-3.6%. A finite element model was developed and validated experimentally, yielding <3.2% error.

Automated summary

This paper describes the design and analysis of a permanent magnet flowmeter for use in a pool type sodium fast reactor environment. Recently developed Samarium Cobalt rare earth magnets were utilized, showing resilience to high temperatures and neutron flux. The flowmeter was calibrated at different temperatures, yielding an error of 2-3.6%.