Experimental study of sodium/carbon dioxide reaction

Ishikawa, Hiroyasu ; Miyahara, Shinya  ; Yoshizawa, Yoshio*

Supercritical CO is being investigated as a material for a secondary cooling system of Na-cooled fast reactor in to avoid Na/water reaction. In this type of reactor, however, it is necessary to consider the consequences of Na/CO reaction, which might occur in the case of tube rupture in a heat exchanger between primary and secondary systems. Experiments were carried out with test equipment for the Na/CO reaction, which can handle 1-5 g order of Na. The solid products of the Na/CO reaction sampled from the equipment were analyzed by XRD and chemical analysis. From these experimental results, we proved that the reaction proceeded between liquid Na and CO. The Na/CO reaction stopped only the pool surface reaction with a small quantity of aerosol emission when the temperature was lower than 570C. On the other hand, the reaction continuously proceeded with on orange-colored flame and aerosol release when the temperature was higher than 580C.