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Division Spotlight
Robotics & Remote Systems
The Mission of the Robotics and Remote Systems Division is to promote the development and application of immersive simulation, robotics, and remote systems for hazardous environments for the purpose of reducing hazardous exposure to individuals, reducing environmental hazards and reducing the cost of performing work.
Meeting Spotlight
Utility Working Conference and Vendor Technology Expo (UWC 2024)
August 4–7, 2024
Marco Island, FL|JW Marriott Marco Island
Standards Program
The Standards Committee is responsible for the development and maintenance of voluntary consensus standards that address the design, analysis, and operation of components, systems, and facilities related to the application of nuclear science and technology. Find out What’s New, check out the Standards Store, or Get Involved today!
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Latest News
Vogtle-3 shuts down for valve issue
One of the new Vogtle units in Georgia was shut down unexpectedly on Monday last week for a valve issue that has been investigated and repaired. According to multiple local news outlets, Georgia Power reported on July 17 that unit 3 was back in service.
Southern Company spokesperson Jacob Hawkins confirmed that Vogtle-3 went off line at 9:25 p.m. on July 8 “due to lowering water levels in the steam generators caused by a valve issue on one of the three main feedwater pumps.”
G. K. Pandey, I. Banerjee, G. Padmakumar, C. Anandababu, K. K. Rajan, G. Vaidyanathan, P. Kalyanasundaram, S. C. Chetal, Baldev Raj
Nuclear Technology | Volume 175 | Number 3 | September 2011 | Pages 692-699
Technical Note | NURETH-13 Special / Fission Reactors | doi.org/10.13182/NT11-A12516
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
A sodium-cooled, 500-MW(electric) prototype fast breeder reactor (PFBR) is under construction in Kalpakkam, India. The PFBR core houses various subassemblies that are supported vertically inside the core by the sleeves provided in the grid plate. A small radial gap exists between the grid plate sleeve and the foot to facilitate easy handling of subassemblies. It is natural that there will be some leakage flow through this radial gap into the hot and cold pools of the PFBR. To minimize this leakage flow, top and bottom labyrinths are provided on the foot of the subassemblies. The total leak flow rate permitted from the top labyrinth is 195 kg/s, whereas the leak flow rate allowed through the bottom labyrinth is 436 kg/s. Labyrinth-type sealing devices have been developed by carrying out experimental studies. Based on various parametric studies, the labyrinth geometry was optimized. It was found that apart from the clearance between the foot and sleeve, important parameters affecting pressure drop are groove profile, groove pitch, groove-depth-to-width ratio, etc. Taking into account the outcome of these studies, helical square grooved labyrinths have been designed and manufactured for PFBR. This paper presents the details of the similarity criteria followed, experimental methodology applied, and results obtained from the experiments along with their transposability to reactor conditions.