Flow visualization of liquid metals by neutron radiography

Experimental techniques were developed to visualize liquid metal flows by neutron radiography. Lead-bismuth eutectic was used as a working fluid. Tracer and dye injection methods were employed for the visualization. A tracer made of gold-cadmium intermetallic compound and a dye made of lead-bismuth-cadmium alloy were developed. It was shown that both methods were suitable for flow visualization in a liquid metal. The use of this visualization technique to study thermal hydraulics in a liquid metal-cooled blanket for a fusion reactor is discussed.