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ORNL-CF-58-8-33.txt
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ORNL-CF-58-8-33.txt
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>
;s Hat
P
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s
X-822 e e T
OAK RIDGE NATIONAL LABOR
Operated by g@ggflmusmu AUTHDRIZED
UNION CARBIDE NUCLEAR COMPANY
Division of Union Carbide Corporation 0 R N l_
= CENTRAL FILES NUMBER
Ouk Ridge, Tennassee
58-8- x
DATE: August 13, 1958 CUPY’NO-ii;y
SUBJECT: Screening Tests of Mechanical Pipe Joints
for a Fused Sszlt Reactor System
TO: Distribution
FROM: W, B, MeDonald, E. Storte, A. 8. Olson
ABSTRACT
The testing and evaluation of three types of mechanical Joints
in a circulating molten fluoride salt system, at temperatures up to
15009, has been accomplished. ‘
The feasibility of these jolnts for use in a large scale molten
sall system 1s discussed,
Design criteria and operating techniques are described.
Measurements have been made of the leakage rates of helium
through the joints. The effects of thermal cycling, atmospheric
exidation, salt corrosion, and thermal stresses have been noted.
Disassembly and reassembly procedures are described.
e LEGAL NOTICE —
This repart was prepored as an occount of Government sponsored work. Meither the United States,
nor the Commission, nor any person acting on behalf of the Commission:
A. Mckes any warranty or representation, express or implied, with respect to the sccuracy,
completeness, of usefulness of the informotion contained in this report, or that the use of
any information, apparatus, method, or process disclosed in this report moy not infringe
privately own=d rights; or
B. Assumes any liabilities with respect to the use of, or for damages resulting from the use of
any information, apparatus, method, or process disclosed in this report.
As used in the above, '‘person acting en behelf of the Commission' includes any employee or
contractor of the Commission to the extent that such employse or contractor prepares, handles
of distributes, or provides access to, any information pursuant te his employment or contract
with the Commission.
1.0
208
5.0
-
=
&
5.0
i
o
Table of Contents
Totroduehblon o ¢ o o o o o o o o o o o s s o 2 o 0 o o o o »
BUMMBYTY o o o o o 5 o o s o 6 o o o » o o s » o o o o s o a
Description of Test Joints o & o ¢ 4 v 6 o 4 o o & o o 2 s
Criteria for Jolinh Performant® . v o o s o o o v ¢ & @
WM
»
}J
N
&
£
Frasge Flangs Joinb . o 4 5 ¢ o 6 o 6 ¢ o 6 0 0 o 5 5
5.3 Indented Seal Jolnb o o 4 o ¢ ¢ o o ¢ o ¢ o s o o & o o
fio% Gafit S@&l J@int * % B & e ©°© B » H e r e H& 4 & © ° " o °
5 The Test LOOD 2 o o o o o o o 8 o 0 s o ¢ o o s s o o »
2.6 Tostrumenbabion o o o v o v s 0 6 s 6 o 0 e s o 5 » o
Test ProcedU'® o o o o 2 o o o o o o o o« o o o o o o o « o o
4.1 Freeze Flange Joint . . o ¢ 4 o 6 o o 6 o 5 o o o o o o
L2 Coast 88l JOIOE v v o v o o s 0 0 o 0 s o e b e e e e
L.rofi Lnd@fitfi‘fi.sa&lggintaaoosoooo-oo-coona
ol
lzougslon of Besult8® . o o o o 4 4 ¢ o 6 6 o o o o o o o o
ol Fresza Elaflge Jfliflfi g 8 & * 8 8 & & © B # S & 8 e & ® 0
.2 Cafifi Seal JOint & ® ¢ © & © & & % & & » O © s & © @ 0
5o§ Ind@mt@fi S@&l J@int " & ® ° o © & s & ¢ £ & o & & & B 0
7 - 0 .
“Fufiflr@ leStS ¢ © © © © & 9 B8 8 & 4 & & © e & & & & e w s 0
Preliminary Mechanicel Joint Specification . . .« . + « ¢« ¢ &
Gravhs of FPreeze Flange Thermal Cyeling Tests . o o o o o o
o
th
Graphs Cast Seal Flange Thermal Cycling Tests . « o o o &
rraphs of Indented Seal Flange Thermal Cycling Tests .+ o &
Report oa Metallurgical Examination of the Cast Seal Flanges
>
Report on Metallurgical Examination of the Freeze Flange Joint
Assembly Drawings of the Mechanical Joint and Loop « & o o &
o
5
W
5
j-t
66
Tl
Gl
100
105
107
1.0
Iotroduction
To raduce down-time during maintenence operations on the molten salt
pover reactor system to a minimum, the phil@sgphy has been adopted that
all system components on which diract mainbtenancs is not possible shall
be removable and replaceable with sparss, by reamote manipulation. Re-
pair work on falled compomants shall be accomplished in suitably equipped
independsnt facilities,
It is preregquisite to ths removal ard replacemsnt of system com-
ponzctbs by remote manipulation that a reliable msethod be developed for
parting system pipipng and rejoining it to its originsl integrity. Until
prasent experimsntal efforts to perform critical welding remotely have
uceeedaed to the point wherse they can be applied with confidence to the
maintenasce of a reactor system, the use of mechanical Joints for this
porpose most be considered. The cobjective of the work reported here was
to scresn the various concepts of mechanical Jolnts offered by individuals
or groups within the Reactor Projects Division, and to selact for develop-
ment those showing promise of successful application,
Thrae small scale mechanical pipe joints of alternative types were
tasted in a fused salt pump loop, The Joints werse cold leak checksed on
a mass spactrometer lsak detector kefore installation in the loop, vare
then lustalled and subjected to a saries of thermal cycles betwaen 1100
and 1300°F, removed from the loop and leak chackad., The Joints were
then parted, remads; and lzak chacked again, An indicated lesk rate of
less than 1 x .1.()@7 ce of halium per second was reguired for acceptable
parformance at =ach check.
Of the three joints tested, the "freeze flange" Joint was found sat-
isfactory for immediate development, the "indented seal" Joint was found
promising if modified, and the "cast seal” joint was found not suitable
for development.
In accordance with these results, further tests of the small-scale
"freezs flange” and "indented seal’ joints have been initiated with sodium
as the process fluld, and a pair of "freeze flange" Joints in 4" pipe size
has besn fabricated for testing in a large fused salt system. Results of
these tests will be reported separately.
Descripbion of Test Joints
3.1 Criteria for Joint Performance
For the screening tests, the following criteria were used, based upon
the Prelimiusry Mechanical Joint Specification (see Appendix 1) prepared by
the MSEP Group: |
(a) The joints shall be fabrieated of materials compatible
with fused fluoride salt fuels.
(b} The joint leak rate, cold, before installation in the test
loop, shall be less than 1 x 1077 cc of helium per second, as in-
dicated by comparison with a standard leak used in conjunction with
a mass spectromeler leak detector.
(¢) The joint shall be installed in a test loop circulating fused
salt and subJjected to a minimum of 50 thermal cycles between the
temperatures of 1150 and 13%00°F,
(4) No fluid leakage shall be acceptable,
(¢) Upon completion of the thermal cycling tests, the Joint shall
bs cut from the loop and cold leak checked {sse 3.1.Db).
(£} It shall be demonstrated that each joint can be parted and
remads accaptably leak tight, without requiring more than super-
ficial cleaning, etc., such as could be psrformed Dy remote
mayipulatlon,
%.,2 Fresze Flange Joind
The principle of the frozen ssal mechanieal jolunt, or frseze flangs,
is illustrabed in Fig, 1, The frozen salt seal is formed in the gap
vetween the flange faces. The ring insert provides a labyrinth re-
striction to the passage of salt into the gap. The labyrioth is im-
portant only when the test loop was filled with salt, before the frozen
saal was formed. After the frozen seal is forwmad, 1t retains the molten
salt in the process stream. The metal seal ring provides s gas-tight
seal , walch retalos fission gases. For an effectlive gas seal, it was
found necaesseary to manufacturs the seal ring to close toleracces., The
0. D, and 1. D, of the ring were within 0.004% inches on a diasmeter of
seven inches, and concentric within 0.001 inches, The finish requirsd
wvas sixteen microinches. The same Lolerancaes were reguired in making
tha geal ring groove in the flange faces,
An alr chnsnpel, in each balf of the Tlangs asssmbly, provides cool-
ing for the seal ring and insurss the formation of the frozen salt seal.
Toe flange hass a thin cross saction between the flange hub, which
is welded to the loop tubing, and the seal ring, near the outer edge of
the flangs, This was designed to pressat a small cross sectional area
for radial beat conduction. FPour webs add strength to the flange and re-
duce warping.
On the test installation, sight gulck-opsuing toggle clamps wers
usaed on each flanges assgembly, as shown in Fig. 2, toe provide the necessary
UNCLASSIFIED
ORNL-LR-DWG 27825
1-SOFT-IRON OR COPPER SEAL RING
+H¢ GAP (~Yie in)
" AIR CHANNEL FOR COOLING
FROZEN-SALT SEAL
SRR ERRD \\\\\\xx IR S S I R IR X D K
_ /WELD OF FLANGE TO LOOP TUBING
—s=— SALT FLOW
7 U RIE % \\
/ \/é\\}\gfi:—mm INSERT TO PROVIDE LABYRINTH
/§ FOR SALT LEAKAGE
3 FROZEN-SALT SEAL
/
X
/b NARROW SECTION TO REDUCE HEAT
T TRANSFER FROM THE MOLTEN SALT
; IN THE LOOP TUBING
IR
7N
£ -’:x.
b
SEAL ; 243 INDICATES REGION OF TRANSITION FROM LIQUID
TO SOLID SALT
Fig.1. Cross Section of Freeze Flange Joint.
UNCL ASSIFIED
PHOTO 30204
¥ i ‘
Y L
p 3
' 1
] .
3 i
Fig. 2. Freeze Flanges Installed in Inconel Test Loop.
(1) Air Cooling Lines (2 places); (2) Calrod Heaters (1 place); (3) Toggle Clamp (1 place);
(4) Support for Flange (1 place); (5) Clam Shell Heater (1 place); (6) Hy-Temp Insula-
tion (1 place)
force to maintain the gas leakage rate below the maximum allowed.
Flg. 2 shows the assembled flanges with clam shell type heaters,
located on the loop tubing immediately before and after each flange as-
sembly. Referring to the figure, the various parts are as follows:
(1) Air cooling lines, (2) Calrod heaters leads, (3) Quick-open toggle
clamps, (4) Thermocouple leads, (5) Clam shell heaters, (6) Insulation.
There Were no heaters nor was there any insulation 6n"the flange
assemblies.
The flanges were made of Inconel. The seal rings for the first
test were of stainless steel. In subsequent tests, soft iron and an-
nealed copper seal rings were used.
3.5 Indented Seal Joint
This mechanical joint is illustrated in Fig. 3.. A dead-soft an-
nealed metallgasket is used to seal the two flange halves., A raised
tooth of V-shaped cross section, machined on the face of each flange,
indents the flat metal gasket to provide a tight gas seal. Actual
parts are shown in Figs. 4 and 5.
A thin cross section between the flange hub and gasket, near the
outer edge of the flange, presents a small cross sectional area for radial
heat conduction.
On the test installation, four standard design "C" clamps were used
on each flange assembly to provide the force necessary to indent the
gasket and maintain a gas leakage rate below the maximm allowed. Fig. 6
shows an assembly with clamps.
The flanges were made of Inconel. For the first test, a dead-soft
annealed copper gasket was used in one flange assembly, and an annealed
TC 30-36
N
INDENTATION SEAL FLANGE TEST NO.1.
UNCLASSIFIED
ORNL-LR—-DWG 31974
THERMOCOUPLE LOCATIONS
TC 29-35
/
..\ /-—— TC 28-34
TC 32-38—~ /\ a— 1C 27-33
///////.///// //\ \\\\\’\\\\\\\
e e SALT FLOW
(L L L Ll L Ll s L NN N N NN N NN N NN
[
SN
N
AN
LRAISED
TOOTH )
FLANGE A-IRON GASKET
TC NO. 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32
FLANGE B-COPPER GASKET
TC NO. 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38
S~ WELD TO LOOP TUBING
— ANNEALED METAL GASKET
Fig. 3. Schematic Drawing of Indented Seal Mechanical Joint,
UNCLASSIFIED
PHOTO 30662
2
INCHES
Fig. 4. Assembly of Indented Seal Flange Before Testing.
2
INCHES
Fig. 5. Parts of Indented Seal Flange Before Testing.
UNCLASSIFIED
PHOTO 30663
_0 [-.
Tl
UNCL ASSIFIED
& PHOTO 31519
P g o Sy »,w—-*w-flr - ' r - ‘
s 1 ' ty
i
[ » 3
L : : SR, .
\
Fig. 6. Indented Seal Flange Shown Assembled with "'C'* Clamps.
- 12 -
Armco ircn gasket in the other assembly. For the second test; an an-
nealed Nickel "A" gasket was used in one assembly and a nickel-plated
Armco iron gasket in the other assembly.
3.4 Cast Seal Joint
A cross section of this mechanical Joint is shown in Fig. 7. Four
stainless steel bolts provide the mechanical strength for the Joint. A
metal insert, shown in the figure before being fused, is used to provide
a salt and gas seal. The metal insert is fused between the flange faces
before the test loop is filled with salt. The seal whose melting point
is above that of the fuel salt, is in the solid state during operation
of the test loop.
The sealing surfaces on the flange faces are flash copper plated,
and then nickel plated, to promote good wetting by the sealing alloy.l
Because of its geometry, this Joint must be installed in a vertical
run of pipe.
The test flanges were made of Inconel. A cast silver seal was used
in one flange assembly, while an alloy of T2% silver and 28% copper was
used in the other flange assembly.
An assembly of the flange is shown in Fig. 8.
3.5 The Test Loop
The test loop consisted of 25 feet of one-half inch O, D., 0.045
inch wall thickness; Inconel tubing arranged as shown in Fig. 9. The
various parts are identified as follows: (10) Location of flanges under
test, -(11) Calrod heaters wrapped with stainless steel strip, (12) Clam
lohapter 2.1 MSRP Quarterly Progress Report, Jan, 31, 1958, ORNL 2474
UC-81 Reactors - Power.
_13_.
UNCLASSIFIED
ORNL-LR—-DWG 31972
SEE FIG.13. FOR DIAGRAM OF INCONEL LOOP
FLANGE WITH SILVER INSERT :
TC NO. 19, 20, 21, 22
P FLANGE WITH COPPER-SILVER ALLOY INSERT :
TCNO. 23, 24, 25 26
TC 22— 26 ~——a \
A
\ NS
|
SR
L
-—TC 21~25
TC 20-24
—_—————-
TC19-23 —= g
SEAL MATERIAL INSERT
SHOWN BEFORE BEING
FUSED TO FORM SEAL
AN
1 15 0 1
T ——
INCHES
w7
QZZZZ/W//
/"
. WELD OF FLANGE TO LOOP TUBING
Fig. 7. Cast Seal Flange Showing a Cross Section View and Thermocouple Locations.
Fig. 8. Assembly of Cast Seal Flanges.
UNCLASSIFIED
PHOTO 43636
_VL_
B UNCLASSIFIED
HOTO 31674
Fig. 9. Inconel Test Loop.
(10) Indented Seal Flange (1 place); (11) Calrod Heaters Wrapped with Stainless Steel Strip (2 places); (12) Clam
Shell Heaters (1 place); (13) Unistrut Frame (1 place); (14) LFB Pump (1 place); (15) Salt Sump (1 place);
(16) Metal Trough Support (1 place); (17) Hy-Temp Insulation (1 place) ’
- 16 -
shell heaters, (13) Unistrut frame, (14) LFB pump, (15) "Hy-temp" in-
sulation,
The molten salt mixture was circulated by means of an LFB-type
centrifugel pump. During tests 1 and 2, on the freeze flanges, two
straight sections of the loop, each about nine feet long, were used
ag resistance heaters; A heavy current was passed through the tubing
sections. Other sections of the loop were heated with calrod or clam
shell heaters. The entire loop was preheated, prior to filling with
salt,
Tests 3 and 4 on the freeze flanges were conducted in a new
location where resistance heating was not available, and the entire
loop and pump were heated by means of calrod and clam shell heaters.
A sump tank, connected to the point of lowest elevation in the
loop, was used to fill and drain the loop of molten salt., The LFB
pump, installed at the highest point in the loop also served as a surge
tank., The pump was supplied with an oil lubricating system. A helium
supply was connected to the loop for initial purging of air before
heating. It was also used fio pressurize the sump for filling the loop
with molten salt. The various components.at the pump end of the loop
are shown in Fig. 10 and are identified as follows: (1) LFB pump,
(2) Pump motor and clutch, (3) Salt sump, (4) Water cooled oil storage
tank, (5) Lubricating oil pumps, (6) Helium supply regulators, (7) Helium
bubbler, (8) Helium pressure gauges, (9) Lubricating oil flowmeter.
Salt flow in the loop was controlled by a variable speed magnetic-
type clutch and induction motor. V-belts connected the motor and clutch
to the LFB pump.
-17-
UNCL ASSIFIED
PHOTO 31360
Fig. 10. Inconel Test Loop - Pump End.
(1) LFB Pump (1 place); (2) Pump Motor and Cluteh (1 place); (3) Salt Sump (1 place);
(4) Water Cooled Oil Storage Tank (1 place); (5) Lube Oil Pumps (1 place); (6) He
Supply Regulator {1 place); (7) He Bubbler (1 place); (8) He Pressure Gages (1
place); (9) Lube Oil Flowmeter (1 place).
- 18 -
All components of the loop in contact with the molten salt were
fabricated of Inconel,
The loop design was similar to a "standard" design established
in the Experimental Engineering Department for their corrosion testing
program. The entire loop, including the pump, was mounted on a test
stand, also of "standard" design, made of Unistrut. The stand was
mounted on wheels for easy transport between various construction
stations; such as the weld shop and X-ray room.
All welds in contact with the molten salt were given a dye check
and X-ray examination according to departmental specifications for
critical welds. The Inconel tubing used in the loop had received a
thorough dye check inspection prior to construction of the loop.
Twenty thermocouples were spot welded to the loop tubing and pump,
per Dwg. No., SK-CKM-1623. Additional thermocouples were attached to
the flanges,
Precautions were taken during construction to use clean tubing
and parts, and especlally to avoid contamination of the inside of the
tubing and pump.
3,6 Instrumentation
The chart below lists instruments and controls used on the test
loop for all of the flange tests.
Measurement Primary Element Indicating Element Control
(a) Temperature Chromel -alumel Temperature Re- Tests 1 and 23 (Freeze
' thermocouples corders (1) Flange) Resistance
Heaters, Transformer
(2), Clam shell heaters,
Variacs,
Tests 3 and 4: (Freeze
Flange and other flange
tests) Clam shell heaters,
Variasce (3)
(b
(c)
(4)
- 19 -
Measurament, Primary Element Indicating Element Control
Salt levels In Metal probes and 110 V. lights
pump and sump 110 V. powsr
supply
Helium pressurs -~ ~ = Bourdon Gauges - - =~ Pressure regu~
for LFB punp lators (4)
and sump
Iubricating oil ~ = = Flowratory - = = Centrifugal pump
flow for LFB and motor (5)
pamp
Pump spesd - - = BStrobotac - - - Motor and
clutch (6)
Notes on instruments and conbtrols list:
(1)
(2)
(3)
(&)
Bristol recorders 0-2000°F range for Tests 1 and 2 (Freeze Flange)
Brown recorders 0-2000°F range for Tests 3 and 4 (Freeze Flange and
other flange tests)
Reslistance heaters consisted of two lengths of 1/2" 0. D. x 0,0hs"
wall Inconel tubing each approximately 9 feet long.
Hevi-duty transformer and saturable reactor control rated at
110 KVA, which allows a maximum current of 2740 amps output on
the %0 volt tap; 3 KW is the minimum leaskage power; 20 XW output
can be controlled, but it is difficult to provide steady control
of a lower pover,
Wneelco conbtroller
Vicksers magnetic amplifier
Open elemsnt tType cylindrical clam shell heaters. Variacs, 110 V.,
and 220 V.
Fisher Governor bleed and non-bleed types of pressure regulators, 0-35
psig, Models 67-15 and 67-16,
- 20 -
(5) Eastern Industries Model D-11 centrifugal pump with 1/5 H. F.,
110 V. motor. |
(6) Louis Allis Adjusto-Spede irduction motor, 5 H., P., 3 phase, ~~3600 rpu,
Dypamatic magnetic-typs clutech, 400-3400 rpm at full load.
4,0 Test Procedure
bl Fresze Flange Jolnt
Two sets of flanges were asgsenmbled with seal rings prior Lo in-
gtallation in the loop. Each flangs assembly was then laak tested using
a helium leak dstector. To leak test, the tubing from one zud of a Tlangs
assambly was plugged and the other end comnected to a vacuum pump., A plastic
bag was then placed arcund the flange assembly and kept {1lled with helium
during the leak test, Hellum leak rate tests wers madse on both flange as-
semblies prior to installation in the loop for Tests 3 and 4, This work
was dore by the Instrument Department and is described in detail in thair
grep@rt No, 58-1-20, Both flangs assemblies wers then walded into one and
of the loop as shown in Fige. 2 avd 9.
Helium was circulated through the loop bafore prseheating, to ra-
move air. A helium pressure was malntalned on the loop and pump duriag
heating and filling,
Clean fluoride salt mixture was then travsferred to the sump tank.
When the temperature of all parts of the loop reached 1300°F, helium
pressure was applied to the sump tank to force the salt into the loop,
The pump wasg opsrated at a low speed durdng the filling opsration, The
loop was vented through the pump belium iclet, as the salt displaced the
helium. Salt circulation was chtalned a few minutes labter, when the pump
speed was incrsassed to 2500 rpm to produce about 2 gpm flow., A halium
w 21 e
blanket was maintained at 2 to 5 psig on the salt surface in the pump during
testing operations.
Tha heaters wera then adjusted to obtain 1300°F on all parts of the
loop. During the loop filling operation, cooling air was circulaeted in
the air channels built into the freeze flanges. A small alr flow of ap-
proximately 15 ¢fh was necessary to keep the seal ring area cool.
The loop was filled rapldly to insure establishment of frozen seals
batwesn the flange faces before the molten salt could raise the temperature
of the flanges.
After a period of isothermal operation to make certain there was no
salt leak, the thermal cycle testing waes begun. Temperatures of the salt
were measured by means of thermccouples located on the loop tubing at the
inlet to each flange assembly., Temperature measurements were teken at
varions points on each flange assembly.
The salt flow was maintained at a steady rate of 2 gpm. The pump
speed was checked periodically with a Strobotac and the flow in gpm cbtained
from a pump calibration chart.
A schematic diagram of the Inconel lcop during Tests 1 and 2 is shown
in Fig, 11. During these tests, temperatures were measured at the points
indicated in Fig, 12, Fluoride salt, Fuel No. 107, was circulated in the
loop durlng the first test. The salt temperature was cycled 50 times
betwaen 1150°F and 1300°F, and then the locp was operated isothermally for
SQveralidays at 1300°F. The average cycle time was 44 minutes. A cycle is
defined as a hemperature variation from 1300 to 1150°F and back to 1300°F.
During the second test, In which fluoride salt, Fuel No. 30, was used,
ths temperature variation of the salt wasg from 1300 to 1500°F and back to
-.22_
UNCLASSIFIED
ORNL-LR-DWG 31973
T
FREEZE-FLANGE JOINTS o ~ PLANGE B
(AX!S HORIZONTAL) ]
:J "}.,,( ....... HEATER CONNECTION LUG
—— | .O0P TUBING - INCONEL,
Y-in. 0.0 ,x0.045-in. WALL
SALT FLOW
SALT PUMP
I