A unique "Magnetically Coupled Stirrer for high Temperature Reactive Liquids (MACSTER)" has been developed for carrying out material interaction studies as well as mixing/processing with various liquid metals and alloys having higher melting points (Pb, Pb-Li,Pb-Bi, Ga, Al-Li, etc) as well other liquids (molten salts, organic fluids) which is highly reactive towards atmosphere. The facility is compact and portable and has been already used for screening of various structural materials based on their corrosion behaviour in flowing lead-alloys (Lead, Lead-Lithium and Lead bismuth eutectic) under isothermal-stirring conditions. The present design allows operation of this facility upto 550 °C. Modification of the design of the sample holder would be required to use this facility for mixing reactive liquids. This set up could be used for varied applications like corrosion testing, multi-component mixing, alloy synthesis, etc especially wherever reactive liquids (prone to oxidation, moisture pick up, etc) are handled.

The versatility of the portable set-up is such that it provides complete control over the experiment in terms of operating parameters like temperature, flow velocity, atmosphere (argon/nitrogen/helium/vacuum) where various parameters can be selected individually or in combination with each other. This test system consists of four major components i.e. motor, sample chamber, magnetic coupling and the lifting mechanism.

1. The vertically mounted induction motor is used to rotate a motor shaft using a variable frequency drive (VFD).
2. This shaft induces rotation in another shaft placed vertically below it on the opposite side of a diaphragm with the help of a unique hermetically sealed magnetic coupling. The 2nd shaft is attached to a screw based molybdenum holder which carries the corrosion sample.
3. The sample /stirrer is in the form of a metallic disc (solid/ segmented) which is immersed and rotated in a pool of liquid contained in a molybdenum crucible which is placed inside an outer retort. The retort is heated up to the desired temperature by heaters placed around it.
4. To ensure that the sample/stirrer is completely immersed into the liquid, a screw based lifting mechanism and temperature based level sensors are incorporated at the bottom of the retort. The lifting mechanism allows vertical movement of the molybdenum cylinder during operation and level sensors indicate the exact level to which the crucible needs to be lifted at maximum.

1. This is a first of its kind compact and portable facility which provides a unique opportunity for screening various materials based on their compatibility in liquid metal/molten salts/ reactive media at temperatures up to 1000 °C for long durations (>10,000 h) and under dynamic condition.
2. It is possible to study the effect of a range of velocities on the material compatibility behaviour from one single experiment through this set up.
3. The setup is versatile and can be operated with various kinds of liquids like metals, alloys, salts, other chemicals.
4. The set-up can be manufactured with commonly available workshop facilities and skilled manpower.
5. The design can be easily upgraded or customized to meet the requirements of various sample geometries and operating parameters.

1. High Temperature dynamic compatibility tests in liquid Metals (Pb, Pb-Li,Pb-Bi, Ga, Al-Li, molten salts like FLINAK, chlorides, etc).
2. Pharmaceutical Industry for Gas/ Liquid interaction.
3. Petroleum industries for high temperature mixing.
4. Food and Dairy Industry requiring zero contamination mixing.
5. Mixing of molten metals for alloy/compound synthesis.

A unique "Magnetically Coupled Stirrer for high Temperature Reactive Liquids (MACSTER)" has been developed for carrying out material interaction studies as well as mixing/processing with various liquid metals and alloys having higher melting points (Pb, Pb-Li,Pb-Bi, Ga, Al-Li, etc) as well other liquids (molten salts, organic fluids) which is highly reactive towards atmosphere. The facility is compact and portable and has been already used for screening of various structural materials based on their corrosion behaviour in flowing lead-alloys (Lead, Lead-Lithium and Lead bismuth eutectic) under isothermal-stirring conditions. The present design allows operation of this facility upto 550 °C. Modification of the design of the sample holder would be required to use this facility for mixing reactive liquids. This set up could be used for varied applications like corrosion testing, multi-component mixing, food/dairy/pharma industry requiring zero contamination processing, alloy synthesis, etc especially wherever reactive liquids (prone to oxidation, moisture pick up, etc) are handled.

The process can be demonstrated for a total liquid metal volume of 400 ml. A prototype of the facility, has been successfully operated for 10, 000 h at BARC at 550 ºC for 10, 000 h continuously. The scale of process can be increased just by increasing the diameter of the liquid metal container and as well introducing more number of samples/ stirrers in parallel. The equipment is highly compact and portable. Thus a number of setups can be operated in battery mode if required with each operating a different temperature and speeds.

1. This is a first of its kind compact and portable facility which provides a unique opportunity for screening various materials based on their compatibility in liquid metal/molten salts/ reactive media at temperatures up to 1000 °C for long durations (>10,000 h) and under dynamic condition.
2. It is possible to study the effect of a range of velocities on the material compatibility behaviour from one single experiment through this set up.
3. The setup is versatile and can be operated with various kinds of liquids like metals, alloys, salts, other chemicals.
4. The set-up can be manufactured with commonly available workshop facilities and skilled manpower.
5. The design can be easily upgraded or customized to meet the requirements of various sample geometries and operating parameters.

1. High Temperature dynamic compatibility tests in liquid Metals (Pb, Pb-Li,Pb-Bi, Ga, Al-Li, molten salts like FLINAK, chlorides, etc).
2. Pharmaceutical Industry for Gas/ Liquid interaction.
3. Petroleum industries for high temperature mixing.
4. Food and Dairy Industry requiring zero contamination mixing.
5. Mixing of molten metals for alloy/compound synthesis.

The versatility of the portable set-up is such that it provides complete control over the experiment in terms of operating parameters like temperature, flow velocity, atmosphere (argon/nitrogen/helium/vacuum) where various parameters can be selected individually or in combination with each other. This test system consists of four major components i.e. motor, sample chamber, magnetic coupling and the lifting mechanism.

1. The vertically mounted induction motor is used to rotate a motor shaft using a variable frequency drive (VFD).
2. This shaft induces rotation in another shaft placed vertically below it on the opposite side of a diaphragm with the help of a unique hermetically sealed magnetic coupling. The 2nd shaft is attached to a screw based molybdenum holder which carries the corrosion sample.
3. The sample /stirrer is in the form of a metallic disc (solid/ segmented) which is immersed and rotated in a pool of liquid contained in a molybdenum crucible which is placed inside an outer retort. The retort is heated up to the desired temperature by heaters placed around it.
4. To ensure that the sample/stirrer is completely immersed into the liquid, a screw based lifting mechanism and temperature based level sensors are incorporated at the bottom of the retort. The lifting mechanism allows vertical movement of the molybdenum cylinder during operation and level sensors indicate the exact level to which the crucible needs to be lifted at maximum.

1. Common workshop facilities like Lathe, TIG Welding, etc. EDM may be required for sample fabrication.