MEASUREMENTS OF HYDROGEN CONCENTRATION IN LIQUID-SODIUM BY USING AN INERT-GAS CARRIER METHOD

A technique has been developed to measure the hydrogen level in liquid sodium using an inert gas carrier method. Hydrogen was extracted into an inert gas from sodium through a thin nickel membrane in the form of a helically wound tube. The amount of hydrogen in the inert gas was analyzed by gas chromatography. The present method is unique in that it can be used over the wide range of sodium temperatures (150 to 700 degree C) and has no problems associated with vacuum systems. It was found that other impurities in sodium, such as (O) and (OH), have little effect on the hydrogen pressure in the sodium loop.