Giant electromagnetic pump for sodium cooled reactor applications

A 160 m/sup 3//min (42000 gpm) at 0.25 MPa (37psig) linear induction pump was designed built and tested as part of a major program to develop an advanced sodium-cooled nuclear reactor. The pump is essentially a large linear induction motor with a liquid secondary. It was designed to operate immersed in liquid sodium and cooled by it, hence winding temperatures exceeding 450/spl deg/C were expected. The pump was built and tested under prototypic pressure, flow and temperature conditions with outstanding success.