How does a sodium-cooled reactor work?

The sodium-cooled fast reactor (SFR) uses liquid metal (sodium) as a coolant instead of water that is typically used in U.S. commercial power plants. This allows for the coolant to operate at higher temperatures and lower pressures than current reactors—improving the efficiency and safety of the system.

What are two problems with liquid sodium-cooled reactors?

Disadvantages. A disadvantage of sodium is its chemical reactivity, which requires special precautions to prevent and suppress fires. If sodium comes into contact with water it reacts to produce sodium hydroxide and hydrogen, and the hydrogen burns in contact with air.

Why is sodium so valuable in nuclear reactors?

Sodium is a well-known low-melting-point (97.7°C) alkali metal, which has the main advantages of high thermal conductivity and low neutron absorption cross-section. Also, the relatively high boiling point (882.8°C) of sodium allows a reactor to operate at pressures close to ~ 0.1 MPa.

Why sodium or potassium is used in a nuclear power plant?

Liquid sodium is used as a heat transfer fluid in some types of nuclear reactors because it has the high thermal conductivity and low neutron absorption cross section required to achieve a high neutron flux in the reactor.

Which one is used as coolant in nuclear reactor?

water
A substance circulated through a nuclear reactor to remove or transfer heat. The most commonly used coolant in the United States is water. Other coolants include heavy water, air, carbon dioxide, helium, liquid sodium, and a sodium-potassium alloy.

Can sodium save nuclear?

Liquid sodium is better than water at evacuating heat from the reactor core and its high boiling point of about 900 degrees Celsius allows SFRs to operate close to atmospheric pressure, negating the need for the thick, steel containment vessels at pressurized water reactors.

Does liquid sodium react with water?

Generally, elemental sodium is more reactive than lithium, and it reacts with water to form a strong base, sodium hydroxide (NaOH).

How is liquid sodium made?

Sodium is now produced commercially through the electrolysis of molten sodium chloride, based on a process patented in 1924. This is done in a Downs cell in which the NaCl is mixed with calcium chloride to lower the melting point below 700 °C.

How safe is liquid sodium?

Problem: conventional reactors are cooled by light or heavy water , but FBRs are cooled by liquid sodium, which is inherently dangerous. Liquid sodium reacts explosively with both air and water. Hence, even a tiny leak of sodium coolant can cause a fire.