Progress on the development of the US ALMR electromagnetic pump

An advanced, self-cooled electromagnetic (EM) pump is being designed and developed for the U.S.-Advanced Liquid Metal Reactor (ALMR) under sponsorship by the U.S. Department of Energy. The ALMR is a 840 MWt, sodium cooled, fast reactor having a compact pool-type arrangement with four EM pumps to circulate the liquid metal coolant through the primary system. The EM pump is an annular linear induction pump (ALIP). The pump is cooled by the sodium in which it is immersed. During normal operation, the pump insulation operates from 37.8degC (100degF) to 93.3degC (200degF) above the sodium temperature or about 427degC (800degF) to 538degC (1000degF) depending on the reactor cold pool sodium temperature. A substantial EM pump development program is underway in the U.S. and is comprised of insulation life testing, insulation irradiation testing, key feature testing, stator segment testing and a prototype system test. Significant progress has been made in the first four areas with results to date showing that a self-cooled EM pump with the required high temperature insulation is practical for sodium cooled fast reactor application. (author)