Experimental studies into the dependences of the axial lead coolant pump performance on the impeller cascade parameters

The paper presents results of experimental studies into the dependences of the axial lead coolant pump performance (delivery, head, efficiency) on the impeller cascade parameters, including the number of blades, the cascade blade angle and the cascade solidity. The studies were conducted as applied to conditions of small and medium sized plants based on lead cooled fast neutron reactors with horizontal steam generators. The designs of such plants are now in the process of elaboration at Nizhny Novgorod State Technical University (NNSTU). The studies were conducted at NNSTU's FT-4 test facility at a lead coolant temperature of 440-500 °C. In the process of investigations, the number of blades in the form of flat plates was 3, 4, 6 and 8, the cascade blade angle was in a range of 9-43°, and the cascade solidity (0.6-1.2) was changed by changing the blade section chord length. The shaft speed of the NNSTU's NSO-01 pump, onto which changeable impellers were installed, was changed in steps of 100 rev/min in an interval of 600-1100 rev/min. The blade diameter was about 200mm, and the maximum lead coolant flow rate in the course of the tests reached ∼2000 t/h. The performance of 27 impellers was investigated. It is recommended that the investigation results should be used in design of axial HLMC pumps.