Suppression and Control of Thermal Fatigue by an Active Flow Control Magnet (AFCOM)

Abstract

This study proposes a portable type of active flow control magnet (AFCOM) which would comprehensively solve thermal hydraulic issues such as thermal fatigue, flow-induced vibration, cavitation, etc. concerned in a sodium-cooled fast reactor.This AFCOM technology utilizes electromagnetic force that negatively affects for conducting fluid in general.To begin with, the applicability of the AFCOM technology to the sodium thermal hydraulic issues is evaluated from the thermal and MHD points of view and then, the details of a newly constructed flow test loop, which uses liquid gallium as the simulant of sodium, are reported, including the safety and corrosive issues of gallium.