Investigation of selected materials stability for future application in development of small fast modular reactors (SFMR)

Abstract

Currently, there is growing demand for cheap and reliable electricity production. One possible solution could be the construction of small modular fast neutrons nuclear reactors, where the reactor core cooling fluid is a suitable liquid metal. Liquid tin has significant advantages over the other potential candidates but its usage as coolant is challenging for the confining materials ensuring the nuclear safety of the future reactors. Current paper presents an investigation of structural materials stability in liquid tin with measurement of the surface tension, based on “Wilhelmy plate” method. The results are related to stability of spring steel, iron, nickel and copper, used as dipping plates as well as oxygen/liquid tin interactions when melted tin is exposed to air. The reported custom apparatus in our previous studies, was improved and its measuring capability was enhanced in order to demonstrate reliable results at low cost. Theoretical analysis is provided in order to demonstrate the reliability of the presented approach. Main results include: (1) Determination of liquid tin surface tension in case of air oxygen/tin reaction in liquid surface; (2) Investigation of measuring plate degradation and calculation of solution rate constant in case of dipped a plate made by copper; (3) Determination of Butler’s equation parameters in case of surface oxygen/tin interactions.