GB905940A - Improvements in or relating to electromagnetic liquid metal pumping systems - Google Patents

Abstract

905,940. Electromagnetic interaction pumps; generating electricity by forcing fluid through magnetic fields. UNITED KINGDOM ATOMIC ENERGY AUTHORITY. Aug. 3, 1960 [Aug. 6, 1959], No. 26905/59. Class 35. In an electromagnetic interaction pumping system of the type in which liquid metal is pumped through a primary duct 7 to generate current which is used to pump metal through a secondary duct 8, the ducts are deep and narrow at the central region 9 and shallow and wide at the edges 10, 11 of the magnetic field, so as to reduce parasitic currents flowing outside the working region. The grading of the working flux by the use of concentric exciting windings 4, 5 and convex pole-faces serve the same purpose. An additional barrier to parasitic currents is provided by diffuser baffles 18 each of which consists of two stainless steel sheets with an air gap or insulating sheet between them. Copper bars 15 complete the current circuit between the ducts 7, 8 and these are separated by steel, reinforcing plates 12, 13, 14. The duct assembly is enclosed in an insulated leak jacket (Fig. 2, not shown). It is described how the pump of the present invention may be applied to the circulation system of a sodium-cooled nuclear reactor (Fig. 3, not shown). In order that the pump may act as a contraflow heat-exchanger between the two liquids, the primary and secondary ducts are subdivided into juxtaposed rows of forward and reverse runs as shown in Fig. 4, connected in series groups by external connections (Fig. 5, not shown). Alternative current circuits are described (Figs. 6, 7, not shown). Specification 745,460 is referred to.