Feasibility study of Magnetic Flow Meters for Molten Salt Reactors

Abstract: This thesis investigates the possibility of using magnetic flow meters to measure the flowrate of molten salts in Seaborg Technologies Compact Molten Salt Reactor (CMSR).There is a need to accurately measure the flow rate in salt circulation systems to ensureproper operation of the entire facility. The requirements and criteria for the operationof a magnetic flow meter are studied, from which a model is constructed in COMSOLMultiphysics. The flow meter characteristics are analysed in COMSOL by performingsteady-state magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) simulations and by doing a sensitivity anal-ysis of the velocity field and the magnetic field strength. The induced electric potentialdifference in the flow meter when the reactor is at a maximum designed thermal power isin the range of 65 mV when using a normal inlet flow profile. The effect of the velocityfield is studied for two velocity profiles, and it indicates that the velocity profile alters theinduced potential difference even though the mass flowrate is the same. The magneticfield strength increases the electric potential difference when it is increasing, which isaccording to theory. The results indicate that magnetic flow meters are a viable optionfor Seaborg’s CMSR. However, further analysis is needed regarding the materials usedto ensure proper operation of the flow meter.