Question: In many nuclear reactors, the nuclear fuel is assembled in solid form in the form of a lattice through which liquid sodium coolant is pumped. This assembly is usually built up of fuel plates which are thin rectangular prisms. In one such assembly, the openings for coolant are 2.620 in. wide by 0.118 in. The plates are 25 in. long. Manifolding at the ends is such that an infinite diameter may be assumed. Calculate the pressure drops in psi between the inlet and outlet manifolds of the fuel assembly for botb water at an average temperature of lOOOF and sodium at 4OOOF, assuming that the surface roughness of the plates is equivalent to drawn tubing and that fluid velocities of 20 ft/s are Used.
