| Abstract: | A study, both theoretical and experimental, was undertaken on the hydrogen dissolution ratio in liquid sodium, with the view of estimating the quantity of hydrogen that dissolves into sodium before reaching the free surface, following the occurrence of sodium-water reaction in a steam generator. Superheated steam was injected into the sodium in a reaction vessel of configuration simulating the steam generator. The hydrogen dissolution ratio was determined from analysis of the responses obtained on a hydrogen detector installed downstream of the reaction vessel. The hydrogen dissolution ratio was found to vary from o to 15% over a leak rate ranging of 3~10 g/sec, as determined both from the transient response data given by the hydrogen detector and from the corresponding data obtained from tests on changes in hydrogen concentration upon complete mixture with the entire sodium inventory. A theoretical model was assumed for estimating the hydrogen dissolution ratio, which yield results in good agreement with the experimental data, in respect of the rising tendency of the dissolution ratio with decreasing leak rate and with rising sodium temperature. |
