• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
• /
• 제51권5호
• /
• pp.1251-1260
• /
• 2019

The water-cooled WCLL blanket is one of the possible candidates for the blanket of the fusion power reactors. The plasma-facing first wall manufactured from the reduced-activation ferritic-martensitic steel Eurofer97 will be cooled with water at a typical pressurized water reactor (PWR) conditions. According to new estimates, the first wall will be exposed to peak heat fluxes up to $7MW/m^2$ while the maximum operated temperature of Eurofer97 is set to $550^{\circ}C$. The performed analysis shows the capability of the designed flat first wall concept to remove heat flux without exceeding the maximum Eurofer97 operating temperature only up to $0.75MW/m^2$. Several heat transfer enhancement methods (turbulator promoters), structural modifications, and variations of parameters were analysed. The effects of particular modifications on the wall temperature were evaluated using thermo-hydraulic three-dimensional numerical simulation. The analysis shows the negligible effect of the turbulators. By the combination of the proposed modifications, the permitted heat flux was increased up to $1.69MW/m^2$ only. The results indicate the necessity of the re-evaluation of the existing first wall concepts.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
• /
• 제51권1호
• /
• pp.221-227
• /
• 2019

One of the important requirements for the application of reduced activation ferritic/martensitic steel is to retain proper mechanical properties in irradiation and high temperature conditions. In order to simulate the impact toughness with the effect of temperature and irradiation, a simulation model based on energy balance method consisted of crack initiation, plastic propagation and cleavage propagation stages was established. The effect of temperature on impact toughness was analyzed by the model and the trend of the simulation results was basicly consistent with the previous experimental results of CLAM steels. The load-displacement curve was simulated to express the low temperature ductile-brittle transition. The effect of grain size and inclusion was analyzed by the model, which was consistent with classical experiment results. The transgranular-intergranular transformation in brittle materials was also simulated.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
• /
• 제54권6호
• /
• pp.1962-1971
• /
• 2022

The liquid lead-lithium (Pb-17Li) blanket has many applications in fusion reactors due to its good tritium breeding performance, high heat transfer efficiency and safety. The compatibility of liquid Pb-17Li alloy with the structural material of blanket under magnetic field is one of the concerns. In this study, corrosion experiments China low activation martensitic (CLAM) steel and 316L steel were carried out in a forced convection Pb-17Li loop under 1.0 T magnetic field at 480 ℃ for 1000 h. The corrosion results on 316L steel showed the characteristic with a superficial porous layer resulted from selective leaching of high-soluble alloy elements and subsequent phase transformation from austenitic matrix to ferritic phase. Then the porous layers were eroded by high-velocity jet fluid. The main corrosion mechanism of CLAM steel was selective dissolution-base corrosion attack on the microstructure boundary regions and exclusively on high residual stress areas. CLAM steel performed a better corrosion resistance than that of 316L steel. The high Ni dissolution rate and the erosion of corroded layers are the main causes for the severe corrosion of 316L steel.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
• /
• 제55권2호
• /
• pp.555-565
• /
• 2023

Despite many advantages as structural materials, austenitic stainless steels (SSs) have been avoided in many next generation nuclear systems due to poor void swelling resistance. In this paper, we report the results of heavy ion irradiation to the recently developed advanced radiation resistant austenitic SS (ARES-6P) with nanosized NbC precipitates. Heavy ion irradiation was performed at high temperatures (500 ℃ and 575 ℃) to the damage level of ~200 displacement per atom (dpa). The measured void swelling of ARES-6P was 2-3%, which was considerably less compared to commercial 316 SS and comparable to ferritic martensitic steels. In addition, increment of hardness measured by nano-indentation was much smaller for ARES-6P compared to 316 SS. Though some nanosized NbC precipitates were dissociated under relatively high dose rate (~5.0 × 10^-4 dpa/s), sufficient number of NbC precipitates remained to act as sink sites for the point defects, resulting in such superior radiation resistance.

• Corrosion Science and Technology
• /
• 제13권2호
• /
• pp.41-47
• /
• 2014

The isothermal corrosion tests of several types of stainless steels, Ni-based alloys, and ferritic-martensitic steels (FMS) were carried out at the temperature of 550 and $650^{\circ}C$ in SFR S-$CO_2$ environment (200 bar) for 1000 h. The weight gain was greater in the order of FMSs, stainless steels, and Ni-based alloys. For the FMSs (Fe-based with low Cr content), a thick outer Fe oxide, a middle (Fe,Cr)-rich oxide, and an inner (Cr,Fe)-rich oxide were formed. They showed significant weight gains at both 550 and $650^{\circ}C$. In the case of austenitic stainless steels (Fe-based) such as SS 316H and 316LN (18 wt.% Cr), the corrosion resistance was dependent on test temperatures except SS 310S (25 wt.% Cr). After corrosion test at $650^{\circ}C$, a large increase in weight gain was observed with the formation of outer thick Fe oxide and inner (Cr,Fe)-rich oxide. However, at $550^{\circ}C$, a thin Cr-rich oxide was mainly developed along with partially distributed small and nodular shaped Fe oxides. Meanwhile, for the Ni-based alloys (16-28 wt.% Cr), a very thin Cr-rich oxide was developed at both test temperatures. The superior corrosion resistance of high Cr or Ni-based alloys in the high temperature S-$CO_2$ environment was attributed to the formation of thin Cr-rich oxide on the surface of the materials.

• 대한기계학회논문집A
• /
• 제34권1호
• /
• pp.103-110
• /
• 2010

본 연구에서는 프랑스의 RCC-MR A16 절차에 기초하여 Mod.9Cr-1Mo 강(ASME Grade 91) 구조의 크리프-피로 균열 개시 및 성장 평가법을 확장 개발하였다. 현재의 A16 지침은 오스테나이트 스테인리스강에 대해서만 크리프-피로 균열 개시 및 성장 평가법을 제시하고 있지만, 현재 초초임계(USC) 화력발전소는 물론 미래형 원자로 시스템의 구조재료로서 폭넓게 채택되고 있는 Mod.9Cr-1Mo 강에 대한 지침은 제시하지 않고 있다. 본 연구에서는 FMS(페리틱-마르텐사이트강)에 대한 크리프-피로 균열 개시 및 성장 평가법을 제시하고 있고, 구조물에 대한 크리프-피로 균열 거동 평가를 수행하였다. 평가결과는 구조시험을 수행한 결과 얻은 관찰 이미지와 비교하였다.

• 한국진공학회:학술대회논문집
• /
• 한국진공학회 2009년도 제38회 동계학술대회 초록집
• /
• pp.274-274
• /
• 2010

한국은 국제핵융합실험로 (ITER) 사업에 참여하고 있으며, 삼중수소 증식을 시험하기 위한 시험 모듈(TBM, Test Blanket Module)로서 HCML (Helium Cooled Molten Lithium) TBM을 설계, 개발하고 있다. 헬륨 및 액체 리튬을 냉각재와 증식재로 사용하는 개념으로, 구조재로서 Ferritic Martensitic (FM) 강이 사용될 예정이다. 특히, HCML TBM의 일차벽은 중성자 및 플라즈마로부터 입사되는 입자들을 차폐하기 위한 Be 차폐체와 FM강으로 구성되어 있으며, 일차벽 제작법 개발을 위해서는 Be과 FM강 간의 접합과 FM강 간의 접합 방법이 개발되어야 한다. FM강 간의 접합은 기존의 연구를 통해 접합 조건이 이미 도출되었고, 고열부하 시험을 통해 검증 완료한 상태이다. 그러나, Be과 FM강 간의 접합은 현재 개발단계에 있다. 본 논문에서는 고려 중인 구조재와 Be 차폐체 사이의 접합법 개발을 위해, 고온등방가압(HIP, Hot Isostatic Pressing) 조건을 도출하고, 운전조건과 유사 혹은 가혹한 조건에서 고열부하를 인가하여, 그 건전성을 평가하는 일련의 과정을 기술하였다. 본 연구에서는 Be과 FM강 간의 접합법 개발 및 검증을 위해 제작된 $80{\times}80{\times}1$ Be/FM강 mock-up을 국내에서 구축된 고열부하 시험 장비인 KoHLT를 활용하여 수행한 고열부하 시험에 대한 것이다. 본 mock-up은 $80{\times}80{\times}10mm(t)$의 Be tile 3개를 동일 크기에 두께가 각각 25mm와 50 mm인 FM강과 스테인레스강에 접합된 것으로, 고열부하 장비에 설치하여 고열부하 시험을 수행하였다. 냉각수의 온도 및 속도는 25 C, 0.15 kg/sec로 유지되었고, 열부하는 $0.5\;MW/m^2$로 유지하였다. 시험 조건에 대한 예비해석을 통해, 가열시의 온도 및 stress, strain 분포를 얻었고, 이를 통해, cycle to failure 값을 도출하였다. 1000 사이클의 가열 실험을 마친후 초음파를 활용한 접합 계면의 결함확인 및 파괴검사를 통한 접합 건전성을 확인하였다. 3가지 접합법 모두 일부 접합면이 이탈되었으며, 향후 보다 건전한 접합방법 개발이 진행되어야 할 것으로 보인다.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
• /
• 제34권1호
• /
• pp.42-59
• /
• 2002

In order to transmute long-lived radioactive nuclides such as transuranics(TRU), Tc-99, and I- l29 in LWR spent fuel, a preliminary conceptual design study has been performed for the accelerator driven subcritical reactor system, called HYPER(Hybrid Power Extraction Reactor) The core has a hybrid neutron energy spectrum: fast and thermal neutrons for the transmutation of TRU and fission products, respectively. TRU is loaded into the HYPER core as a TRU-Zr metal form because a metal type fuel has very good compatibility with the pyre- chemical process which retains the self-protection of transuranics at all times. On the other hand, Tc-99 and I-129 are loaded as pure technetium metal and sodium iodide, respectively. Pb-Bi is chosen as a primary coolant because Pb-Bi can be a good spallation target and produce a very hard neutron energy spectrum. As a result, the HYPER system does not have any independent spallation target system. 9Cr-2WVTa is used as a window material because an advanced ferritic/martensitic steel is known to have a good performance under a highly corrosive and radiation environment. The support ratios of the HYPER system are about 4∼5 for TRU, Tc-99, and I-129. Therefore, a radiologically clean nuclear power, i.e. zero net production of TRU, Tc-99 and I-129 can be achieved by combining 4 ∼5 LWRs with one HYPER system. In addition, the HYPER system, having good proliferation resistance and high nuclear waste transmutation capability, is believed to provide a breakthrough to the spent fuel problems the nuclear industry is faced with.

• 대한금속재료학회지
• /
• 제49권7호
• /
• pp.549-556
• /
• 2011

This study aimed to evaluate the performance of diffusion barriers in order to prevent fuel-cladding chemical interaction (FCCI) between the metallic fuels and the cladding materials, a potential hazard for nuclear fuel in sodium-cooled fast reactors. In order to prevent FCCI, Zr or V metal is deposited on the ferritic-martensitic stainless steel surface by physical vapor deposition with a thickness up to $5{\mu}m$. The diffusion couple tests using uranium alloy (U-10Zr) and a rare earth metal such as Ce-La alloy and Nd were performed at temperatures between 660~800$^{\circ}C$. Microstructural analysis using SEM was carried out over the coupled specimen. The results show that significant interdiffusion and an associated eutectic reaction ocurred in the specimen without a diffusion barrier. However, with the exception of the local dissolution of the Zr layer in the Ce-La alloy, the specimens deposited with Zr and V exhibited superior eutectic resistance to the uranium alloy and rare earth metal.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
• /
• 제54권7호
• /
• pp.2376-2385
• /
• 2022

Two groups of oxide dispersion-strengthened reduced-activation ferritic/martensitic steels (A and B) were prepared by adding Y, Ti, and Zr into steels through vacuum induction melting to investigate the inclusions, microstructures, mechanical properties of the alloys. Results showed that particles with Y, Ti, and Zr easily formed. Massive, Zr-rich inclusions were found in B steel. Density of micron inclusions in A steel was 1.42 × 10¹⁴ m^-3, and density of nanoparticles was 3.61 × 10¹⁶ m^-3. More and finer MX carbides were found in steel tempered at 650 ℃, and yield strengths (YS) of A and B steel were 714±2 and 664±3.5 MPa. Thermomechanical processing (TMP) retained many dislocations, which improved the mechanical properties. YSs of A and B treated by TMP were 725±3 and 683±4 MPa. The existence of massive Zr-rich inclusions in B steels interrupted the continuity of the matrix and produced microcracks (fracture), which caused a reduction in mechanical properties. The presence of fine prior austenite grain size and inclusions was attributed to the low DBTTs of the A steels; DBTTs of A650 and A700 alloy were -79 and -65 ℃. Tempering temperature reduction and TMP are simple, readily useable methods that can lead to a superior balance of strength and impact toughness in industry applications.