Operating experience and design criteria of sodium valves

The information presented refers to sodium valve development for KNK and SNR-300 as well as for sodium test facilities on the INTERATOM site at Bensberg. Well in advance of KNK-I a number of sodium test facilities have been operated containing small and medium size valves of different design and manufacturer. The more stringent requirements for long range safe and reliable operation in KNK-I put forth a development program for the main primary and secondary circuit sodium valves. Operational experience gave rise to modification of the stem seal arrangement mainly, so KNK-II (which is the fast core for KNK reactor) will be run with modified sodium valves. Main pipe diameters in SNR-300 are in the range of 600 mm. Valve designs with rising shafts would require excessive space in the primary circuit cavities, therefore efforts have been directed towards introduction of different type valves. Due to the requirements of after-heat-removal a valve type with control capability had to be chosen. A special design of butterfly valves was selected for the primary and secondary circuits of SNR-300. The development and tests performed with this type of valve are described. In the field of small sodium valves, tests with a 50 mm diameter freeze-seal valve are reported, and the current status of bellows-seal-valves to be inserted into SNR-300 is discussed. (U.S.)