Articles techniques et présentations

Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor (PFBR) is a 500MWe, sodium cooled, pool type, mixed oxide (MOX) fuelled reactor. Sodium flow measurement in various loops of the reactor is of prime importance from the operational and safety aspects. To measure the flow of electrically conducting sodium in large secondary circuit pipes, probe type permanent magnet flowmeters (PTFM) are used. PTFM works on the principle of generation of motional EMF by magnetic forces exerted on the charges in a moving conductor. This paper deals with three dimensional finite element modeling of PTFM. Magnetic field distribution across the flowmeter pipe and the effect of sodium flow on the magnetic field are analyzed. Flowmeter output for different sodium flow rates at different temperatures is predicted and analyzed.