An experimental assessment of a pebble reflector and pebble flow in a small scale recirculating pebble bed.

Abstract

The erosion behaviour of a pebble reflector was examined using small scale, three-dimensional, pebble-bed models and the split-bed technique. An exponential-type change in the reflector-fuel interface angle was indicated. The levelled value was about 13° after recirculation of 30 - 40 bed inventories. Data on downflow and upflow air tests with small-scale, recirculating pebble beds are also presented. These data indicated a variation in pebble discharge ratio of some 20 per cent relative to the non-airflow case.