Design of an ultrahigh temperature liquid metal centrifugal pump for thermal energy storage

Abstract

Abstract Liquid metals serve as efficient heat transfer fluids due to their exceptional thermal conductivity and broad temperature range, rendering them well-suited for demanding applications such as nuclear reactors and thermal energy storage. Nevertheless, designing liquid metal pumps poses significant challenges, including chemical compatibility with the containment vessel and various thermomechanical issues. This study focuses on elucidating these challenges and proposing potential solutions through the example of a centrifugal pump designed for handling liquid tin at an extreme operating temperature of 2400°C. To address chemical compatibility concerns, graphite is adopted as both the containment and pump material, presenting novel mechanical hurdles. Key obstacles include accommodating thermal expansion and navigating the intricacies of working with features approaching the grain size of graphite.