Development of a High-Temperature Molten Lithium Pump

Abstract

The circulation of the liquid-metal heat-transport fluids used in high-performance, mobile, nuclear power plants requires high-temperature pumps. These pumps must be capable of moderately high efficiency over a very long lifetime and have small size, low weight, and high reliability. As an initial phase of a lithium pump development program and to provide pumps for companion development programs, a 195-gpm pump was designed and successfully developed. Extensive testing of pump components, as well as water and liquid-metal tests of complete pump assemblies, was accomplished to meet the program objectives of high performance and high reliability for the required long operating lifetime. Several successful lithium tests of 10,000-hr duration were accomplished with the lithium development pumps and a pump used in a companion heat-exchanger development program.