Nuclear Engineering and Technology

Korean Nuclear Society (한국원자력학회)
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Experimental study of sodium fire and its characteristics under the coupling action of columnar liquid sodium flow and concrete

  • Huo, Yan (College of Aerospace and Civil Engineering, Harbin Engineering University) ;
  • Zou, Gao-Wan (College of Aerospace and Civil Engineering, Harbin Engineering University) ;
  • Dong, Hui (College of Aerospace and Civil Engineering, Harbin Engineering University) ;
  • Lv, Jian-Fu (College of Aerospace and Civil Engineering, Harbin Engineering University) ;
  • He, Jian (College of Aerospace and Civil Engineering, Harbin Engineering University)
  • Received : 2020.10.27
  • Accepted : 2021.03.09
  • Published : 2021.09.25
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Abstract

The complex coupling relationship between liquid sodium and concrete materials affects both the sodium fire characteristics and concrete properties through heat and chemical erosion. In this study, experiments on direct and indirect (separated by a steel plate) contact of the columnar sodium fire with the concrete surface were performed. It was found that the combustion efficiency of liquid sodium in direct contact with concrete was significantly enhanced and accompanied by intermittent explosions and splashing of small concrete fragments. The sodium fire on the surface of the concrete considerably increased the internal temperature, pore size, and distribution density of the concrete. In addition, the depth of influence on the loosening of the concrete structure was also greatly extended. The contact of liquid sodium with the concrete substantially affected its permeability resistance. The water absorption of the concrete surface was increased by more than 70% when liquid sodium directly impacted the bare concrete surface. However, the change in water absorption in the centre of the concrete was primarily affected by the duration of the external heat.

Keywords

Acknowledgement

This study was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC Nos. 51976041 and 51676051), and the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities (No. 3072020CF0211), for which the authors express their gratitude.

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