Coupon Sampler, System and Methods of Use Thereof

A coupon sampler for a reactor system, the coupon sampler comprising

• a combined assembly defining a sampling channel therethrough, the sampling channel comprising an inert gas;
• a pair of isolation valves integrated in series with the sampling channel, each isolation valve of the pair of isolation valves being configured to block flow through the sampling channel;
• a coupon portion disposed within the sampling channel and being axially moveable therein between
• a sampling position in which the coupon portion is disposed at least partially in a flow of molten salt, and
• an isolation position in which the coupon portion is disposed within the sampling channel fully encompassed by the inert gas and fluidically isolated from the molten salt by the closure of each of the pair of isolation valves.

A method of operating a coupon sampler for a reactor system, the method comprising

• associating an in-line portion of a lower assembly with a flow line of a molten salt system, the lower assembly including a lower assembly pipe portion extending transverse from the in-line portion and defining a lower channel therethrough;
• inserting a coupon device into an upper channel of an upper assembly;
• operating an inert gas system to purge room air from the upper assembly with inert gas;
• removably coupling the lower assembly and the upper assembly to one another such that the lower channel and the upper channel define a continuous sampling channel;
• and
• operating an actuation mechanism to move the coupon device from the upper channel to a sampling position in which a portion of the coupon device is disposed in the flow line of the molten salt system.