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A method of and system for removing silicon from a high temperature liquid sodium coolant system for a nuclear reactor. The sodium is cooled to a temperature below the silicon saturation temperature and retained at such reduced temperature while inducing high turbulence into the sodium flow for prom

A method of and system for removing silicon from a high temperature liquid sodium coolant system for a nuclear reactor. The sodium is cooled to a temperature below the silicon saturation temperature and retained at such reduced temperature while inducing high turbulence into the sodium flow for promoting precipitation of silicon compounds and ultimate separation of silicon compound particles from the liquid sodium.

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1. A method for removing silicon from a high temperature liquid sodium coolant containing dissolved silicon comprising: first cooling said high temperature sodium to a reduced temperature below the saturation temperature of silicon (Tsat), maintaining said sodium at said reduced temperature for a fi

1. A method for removing silicon from a high temperature liquid sodium coolant containing dissolved silicon comprising: first cooling said high temperature sodium to a reduced temperature below the saturation temperature of silicon (Tsat), maintaining said sodium at said reduced temperature for a finite time, inducing high turbulence in the flow of such sodium at said reduced temperature to promote precipitation of silicon compond particulates, and hydrocycloning said liquid sodium thereby separating said particulates from said liquid sodium. 2. A method according to claim 1, wherein said high temperature liquid sodium coolant is reduced to a temperature in °F. between Tsat and Tsat-100. 3. A method according to claim 1, wherein said reduced temperature of said liquid sodium coolant is maintained for a period of from 1 to 30 seconds. 4. A method according to claim 1, wherein said hydrocycloned liquid sodium is further cooled and then reheated by heat exchange with said liquid sodium in said first cooling step. 5. A system for removing silicon from a flowing high temperature liquid sodium coolant containing dissolved silicon comprising: means for cooling at least a portion of said high temperature sodium to a reduced temperature below the saturation temperature of silicon, means for maintaining said sodium at said reduced temperature for a finite time, means for inducing high turbulence in the flow of said sodium at said reduced temperature to promote precipitation of silicon compound particulates, and means for separating said particulates from the major portion of said liquid sodium. 6. A system according to claim 5, including means for removing said particulates from said system. 7. A system according to claim 5, wherein said cooling means, temperature maintaining means and turbulence inducing means are incorporated in a single composite unit. 8. A system according to claim 7, wherein said cooling means comprises a heat exchanger forming a portion of said unit and having an axial passage for cooling said high temperature coolant passing therethrough. 9. A system according to claim 8, wherein said temperature maintaining means comprises a tube forming a portion of said unit and having a passage forming a continuation of said axial passage to define a low velocity flow region downstream of said axial passage. 10. A system according to claim 9, wherein said turbulence inducing means comprises a restricted passage within said tube defining a high velocity flow region downstream of said low velocity flow region. 11. A system according to claim 8, including means for further cooling said sodium coolant downstream of said separating means before returning said sodium coolant through said heat exchanger in heat transfer relation to said high temperature coolant. 12. An apparatus for precipitating impurities from a high temperature liquid containing dissolved impurities comprising: a shell, a tube mounted in said shell in radially spaced relation thereto and defining an annular passage there between having an inlet and an outlet, said tube defining an axial passage having an inlet and an outlet, said tube having an axial extension defining a chamber communicating with said axial passage outlet and forming a continuation thereof to provide a low velocity flow region, and a core member mounted in said extension adjacent the end thereof from said axial passage outlet defining a restricted passageway to provide a high velocity flow region. 13. An apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said annular passage has a lesser axial length than said axial passage. 14. An apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said core member is coaxially aligned with said extension whereby said restricted passage is annular in cross sectional configuration. 15. An apparatus for cooling a liquid comprising: an elongated shell having an inlet and an outlet adjacent the opposite ends thereof, a tubular coil mounted in said shell and having an inlet and outlet for conveying a liquid therethrough, means for delivering air under pressure through said shell in heat exchanger relation to said liquid, and means mounted in said shell for directing the flow of air lengthwise of said shell in a spiral path about said tubular coil. 16. An apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said directing means comprises a plurality of diffusers in axially spaced relation along the length of said shell. 17. An apparatus according to claim 16, wherein each diffuser comprises a plurality of vanes extending radially from the axis of said diffuser and circumferentially spaced from each other. 18. An apparatus according to claim 17, wherein each vane has an inner portion lying in a plane substantially normal to said diffuser axis and is gradually bent toward the distal end and terminating in an end portion lying in a plane parallel to a plane cut through said axis.