Design of PFBR sodium pumps and their cavitation performance criteria

The Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor (PFBR) currently under design in India is a 500 MWe sodium cooled reactor plant of pool design. The reactor will have four heat transport loops in the primary as well as the secondary. The total primary coolant flow is expected to be 32000 cubic metres/hr and the total pressure drop in the circuit within 80 mic. Primary sodium will be circulated by four pumps immersed in the cold sodium pool (400 deg. C) and supported from the roof structure. This paper discusses the design of the primary sodium pumps with particular reference to cavitation performance requirements. An outline of the experimental programme for the hydraulic development is also given