Design of experimental facility for helium gas component testing

The current state-of-the-art helium gas test loops for component testing are constrained by the maximum operating temperatures, pressures, and flow rates of such facilities. Idaho National Laboratory is designing a new experimental facility known as HECTOR (HElium Component Testing Out-of-pile Resea...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Progress in nuclear energy (New series) 2024-12, Vol.177 (C), p.105471, Article 105471
Main Authors: Balderrama Prieto, Silvino A., Sellers, Zachary D., Arcilesi, David, Sabharwall, Piyush
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Component testing
Helium gas
High-pressure
High-temperature
HTGR
System design
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Summary:The current state-of-the-art helium gas test loops for component testing are constrained by the maximum operating temperatures, pressures, and flow rates of such facilities. Idaho National Laboratory is designing a new experimental facility known as HECTOR (HElium Component Testing Out-of-pile Research), which is a helium gas test loop for evaluating the performance of components to helium gas pressures, temperatures, and flow rates up to 8 MPa, 800 °C, and 0.15 kg/s, respectively. The construction of this facility will enable researchers to perform experiments across a wide range of Reynolds and Nusselt numbers, which could result in the maturation of technology for high-temperature gas-cooled reactor (HTGR) components. •New helium gas test loop for testing components at various flow conditions.•HECTOR supports experiments up to 8 MPa, 800 °C, and 0.15 kg/s.•Facility will aid in the technology maturation of helium gas systems.
ISSN:0149-1970
DOI:10.1016/j.pnucene.2024.105471