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Conference Article: Construction and performance tests of a secondary hydrogen gas cooling system

Abstract

With the aim of a multi-purpose use of nuclear energy, such as direct steel-making, an experimental multi-purpose high-temperature gas-cooled reactor (VHTR) is now being developed by the Japan Atomic Energy Research Institute (JAERI). In order to simulate a heat exchanging system between the primary helium gas loop and the secondary reducing gas system of the VHTR, a hydrogen gas loop as a secondary cooling system of the existing helium gas loop was completed in 1977, and was successfully operated for over 2000 hours. The objectives of constructing the H₂ secondary loop were: (1) To get basic knowledge for designing, constructing and operating a high-temperature and high-pressure gas facility. (2) To perform the following tests: (a) hydrogen permeation at the He/H₂ heat exchanger (the surfaces of the heat exchanger tubes are coated by calorizing to reduce hydrogen permeation), (b) thermal performance tests of the He/H₂ heat exchanger and the H₂/H₂ regenerative heat exchanger, (c) performance test of internal insulation, and (d) performance tests of the components such as a H₂ gas heater and gas purifiers. These tests were carried out at He gas temperature of approximately 1000^oC, H₂ gas temperature of approximately 900^oC and gas pressures of approximately 40 kg/cm²G, which are almost the same as the operating conditions of the VHTR.

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Reference:

Specialists' meeting on process heat applications technology. Juelich, Germany, F.R. 27 - 29 Nov 1979

International Atomic Energy Agency, Vienna (Austria). International Working Group on High-Temperature Reactors.

IWGHTR--6, pp:119-133