Grants and Contracts Details
Description
Real-Time Atomistic Imaging of Reactor Material—Liquid Metal Coolant Chemistry at
Fusion-Relevant Conditions
Beth S. Guiton
University of Kentucky, Department of Chemistry
Fusion reactions are the principal source of energy in the universe, yet controlling fusion energy on Earth
– a feat that would solve the world’s energy problem – remains a grand science and engineering challenge
for which the development and understanding of potential reactor materials poses a major roadblock.
Fusion reactions can produce energy with one millionth of the equivalent fuel when using conventional
chemical sources, such as coal and oil. Moreover, the lithium and deuterium fuel for fusion power is
readily available from water and rocks, making it a virtually unlimited energy source. With recent
advances in plasma physics, the concept of a fusion energy power plant is now considered feasible; yet, to
become economically competitive, materials are required which can withstand the extraordinarily harsh
environments expected in a functioning fusion reactor. Such materials, for both the plasma facing
component and the heat-extraction blanket regions, must be able to withstand high operating temperatures
and high particle and heat flux -- making materials development a critical factor in determining the future
success of fusion energy. In addition to having high thermal stress-resistance, materials for a fusion
reactor must also demonstrate compatibility with the coolants (such as helium and PbLi eutectic alloy),
resistance to radiation damage, and resistance to the incorporation of tritium, which would pose an
environmental risk in the event of an accident. The current understanding of corrosion mechanisms in the
presence of fusion-reactor coolants at elevated temperatures is, however, limited. Thus, there is a critical
need for cross-cutting collaborations to determine the mechanistic and chemical response of key reactor
materials to coolants under prototypical reactor environments. The objective in this application is to
determine the key parameters and synergy of such parameters governing coolant compatibility with key
prototypical blanket materials, for the promising dual coolant lead lithium (DCLL) blanket concept. The
following specific aims have been devised to meet our objective: (1) Determine the corrosion
mechanisms of aluminum-coated and –containing blanket structural materials due to reaction with
PbLi coolant, using in situ heating in the transmission electron microscope (TEM) to image these
reactions in real-time; (2) Identify the microstructural parameters governing thermal stability of oxide
dispersion-strengthened ferritic alloys in contact with PbLi eutectic, as a function of helium ion pre-
dose, temperature, and grain size, using in situ heating in the TEM; (3) Establish the mechanistic
characteristics of structural transformations due to corrosion and/or dissimilar material reaction
facilitated by PbLi coolant, for silicon carbide-based flow channel insert materials. The successful
completion of these studies would be expected to have a significant positive impact on fusion energy
sciences, since it would provide the essential basis for understanding the mutual compatibility of DCLL
blanket materials.
Status | Active |
---|---|
Effective start/end date | 9/1/21 → 8/31/25 |
Funding
- Department of Energy: $500,000.00
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