Hydrodynamic characteristics of lead and lead-bismuth coolants

The results of an analysis of the effect of the physical properties of lead and lead-bismuth coolants on the hydrodynamic characteristics and the results of experimental investigations of the particulars of the hydrodynamic flows of these coolants in application to loops with fast reactors are presented. It is shown that cavitation, in the conventional meaning of this word, cannot arise in flow part of vane pumps pumping lead and lead-bismuth coolants in a reactor loop. It is confirmed that a gas gap can form between the surface of a heavy liquid-metal coolant flow and the channel walls not wetted by it. The results of experimental studies of the rupture of a column of heavy liquid-metal coolant and detachment of a centrifugal pump flow, probably because of the appearance of gas cavitation, are presented.